After striking out three times on President Obama’s signature competitive education grants, “we’ve finally got one we may hit.”
Schools superintendent Reggie Mayo made that observation Tuesday, as New Haven prepared to enter a new round of competition for federal Race To The Top dollars.
In the previous rounds of Race to the Top, New Haven struck out because only states were allowed to apply, and Connecticut fell short of other states in the type of reforms urged by Obama.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Tuesday morning invited school districts like New Haven to apply directly to a new $400 million competition aimed at closing the achievement gap. The competition offers grants of between $15 million and $25 million to districts with at least 2,500 students and 40 percent of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch — two criteria New Haven easily meets.
The new round of grants “invites school districts to create plans for individualized classroom instruction aimed at closing achievement gaps and preparing each student for college and career.” The grants are aimed at a “personalized education” for kids who are falling behind, not a “one-size-fits-all model.” (Read the draft criteria here.)
New Haven officials have reason to believe they have a shot. So they plan to submit a pitch for the money.
They may have a chance to make an informal early version of that pitch next Tuesday: Arne Duncan is coming to New Haven’s Brennan-Rogers School for a “roundtable to discuss elevating the teaching profession” along with U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro and American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, among others.
Connecticut has lagged behind in key reforms promoted by Race To The Top, such as creating a teacher evaluation based on student performance. At the same time New Haven has been ahead of the curve on several measures.
And New Haven has gained praise from top Obama officials for the collaborative way it settled a new teacher contract. Duncan even invited school officials to D.C. to talk about the city’s teacher evaluations, which are tied to student performance. Duncan himself sent video greetings applauding the launch of New Haven Promise, a college scholarship program last year.
Those plaudits did not land New Haven a federal Investing In Innovation Fund (i3) grant; the city struck out on a $35 million opportunity there in 2010.
School reform czar Garth Harries said Tuesday he’s optimistic about the latest chance for a federal boost to the city’s reform drive.
“We should be very well positioned” in the competition, he said. He cited New Haven’s work on teacher evaluations, school turnarounds, school accountability, leadership development, wraparound services, and school climate. “The things that have been our priorities over the last few years are all the things the federal government has tried to encouraged in previous rounds” of Race To The Top.
Harries called the competition “a significant opportunity” — both to win federal money and to take a fresh look at the city’s school reform drive. “I wouldn’t count our chickens before they’ve hatched,” he added.
Superintendent Mayo said he learned of the new competition from Harries early Tuesday morning.
“I think we’ve got something that fits us right,” Mayo said. “Let’s hope that we get this one.”