Mixed voting seen on second ‘Race’

DOWAGIAC, Mich. - Dowagiac Union Schools will not sign off on the second round of the "Race to the Top" competition, while school districts in Midland and Hancock will, according to media reports. All of the state's public school districts are being asked to support the state's application for federal grant money and to carry out the education reforms it requires.

The Dowagiac school board voted 6-0 against endorsing the application; Superintendent Peg Stowers called it "very solid with unfunded mandates," The (Dowagiac) Daily News reported.

Hancock Public Schools and Midland Public Schools board members voted in support of the application, according to the Midland Daily News and The (Houghton) Daily Mining Gazette, though one Midland school board member said that the new application still does not spell out in sufficient detail what will be required of local schools, the Daily News reported.

In Hancock, Superintendent Monica Healy said that even school districts that do not participate in the 'Race' will have to make changes due to reforms adopted by the State Legislature, The Mining Gazette reported.

School districts and intermediate districts have until June 1 to decide whether to endorse the state application, the Daily News reported. Local endorsement is one of the factors that federal officials will consider in deciding which states will win grant funding.

SOURCES:
The (Dowagiac) Daily News, "'Race' full of unfunded mandates," May 18, 2010

The (Houghton) Daily Mining Gazette, "Another run at funding," May 18, 2010

Midland Daily News, "MPS to seek federal 'Race to the Top' funding," May 18, 2010

FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Michigan 21st in 'Race to the Top'," March 30, 2010