South Carolina is taking a shot at round two of federal education funding. The state made the “Race to the Top” deadline Tuesday, while nine states have dropped out.
The SC Department of Education and its districts are seeking $175 million to be dispensed over four years in the second offering of this federal competition. South Carolina is among two dozen states now applying for the money. Some of the states that decided to drop out say they would have to pass new laws or give up their state’s standards to fit the national requirements. Virginia’s Gov. Robert McDonnell, in a letter to the U.S. Department of Education, says his state is unwilling to lower its standards to meet these national guidelines.
South Carolina placed sixth in the first round of Race to the Top funding.
Race to the Top states must advance reforms in the areas of adopting standards and assessments that prepare students to succeed after graduation; building data systems to measure student growth and successes; recruiting, developing, rewarding, and retaining effective teachers and principals; and turning around lowest-achieving schools.
