‘Race To The Top’ Leaves California In The Dust
PALM SPRINGS – It’s the largest federal investment in the history of United States schools. President Obama wants to spend more than $4 billion on a new program called Race to the Top, but California schools may be out of the running. Teachers would get paid based on how their students score on tests. California educators disagree with the plan.
“I don’t see any positives that can come out of teachers getting paid for student performance,” says Beverly Bricker, president of Palm Springs Teachers Association.
Schools here in California may not qualify for the federal funds. This is because California does not have a system in place linking student performance to teacher evaluations at the state level. Instead, it’s done at the local level. However,Race to the Top requires checks through the state.
“Our state is enormous, it is the size of some countries,” says Bricker.
Bricker believes a local system works better for California given its massive size.
“To create a bureaucracy in Sacramento, where they have to monitor teachers and students, would be a waste of resources,” says Bricker.
Although California educators say the plan could bring some much needed money to the state, it will also bring some negative effects to students.
“It could result in more stress for teachers and students,” says Bricker.
Bricker says basing teacher pay on a single state test is not an accurate measure. If students don’t apply themselves or study, teachers literally pay.
“Teachers are held accountable,” says Bricker.
For now, the federal government and the state are trying to reach an agreement so that California schools can race to the top and compete with other states.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says he would push to amend state law if necessary. States are required to submit applications by October for the first round of grants.
