Lack of union support cited in Colorado's loss of Race to Top education funds
By Jeremy P. Meyer The Denver Post
Federal reviewers downgraded Colorado's Race to the Top application for education stimulus funds citing lack of union support, historic failure to raise student achievement and a "vague" plan.
Colorado lost for the second straight time in the national grant competition, mystifying education reformers around the country who had touted the state's plan as one of the nation's most ambitious.
Lt. Gov. Barbara O'Brien, who led the state's Race to the Top effort, said she would recommend against reapplying if the federal government hosts another round.
"Something very fundamental in the process would have to change," she said.
Colorado finished 17th out of 19 finalists with a score of 420 on a 500- point scale — the average of scores from five panelists who judged the state's application.
Comments from reviewers, who are not being identified by the U.S. Department of Education, ranged from glowing to critical. Colorado had the widest margin between high and low scores among the finalists.
Two reviewers, in particular, gave the state low marks.
One who scored Colorado the lowest among all finalists — 339 points — repeatedly noted lack of union support, "which weakens the likelihood of widespread impact."
Tim Daly, president of the New Teacher Project, said it was clear reviewers didn't understand that some reforms had been written into law.
"So many of these things are part of state law that you would think it would make those issues moot," he said.
Perhaps most telling was a section about the state's implementation of a science, technology, engineering and math curriculum, or STEM. Two reviewers said the application lacked a comprehensive STEM plan, and three reviewers said the opposite.
All five judges downgraded Colorado for failing to close the achievement gap between disadvantaged students and their wealthier peers.
"The applicant's record of improving student achievement is weak and there is little information describing lessons learned from previous reforms," one reviewer wrote.
The state's presentation also got low points. Two reviewers complained that the application didn't include a copy of Senate Bill 191, a pivotal element of Colorado's reform effort.
"That is ridiculous," O'Brien said, insisting the bill was included in the application.
Kelly Hupfeld, associate dean of the School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado Denver, said the process was good for the state.
"Race to the Top gave us a chance to create our vision, which we didn't have before," she said. Read more: Lack of union support cited in Colorado's loss of Race to Top education funds - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/education/ci_15907862#ixzz0yCYS934g
