Race to the Top Reviewer’s Comments on
“Demonstrating Other Significant Reform Conditions”
Average of scores: 0.4 out of 5 possible points
Reviewers of Missouri’s $743.5 million Race to the Top application had numerous negative comments for the state’s application as it related to conditions in the state for significant education reforms. Below are some of the comments taken directly from the review forms.
- “Missouri does not adequately answer this question. It states in a 3 ½ line paragraph that Missouri LEAs operate special education cooperatives, alternative schools and technical programs. However, Missouri does not explain in its application how these programs are reforms or innovations that have increased student achievement or graduation rates, narrowed achievement gaps, or have produced other favorable outcomes. As a result, all points were withheld.” – Reviewer #2
- “The applicant makes almost no effort in this section of the application to describe the extent to which the State, in addition to information provided under other State Reform Conditions Criteria, has created through law, regulation, or policy, other conditions favorable to education reform or innovation that have increased student achievement or graduation rates, narrowed achievement gaps, or resulted in other important outcomes.” – Reviewer #5
- “The state’s application presents only general information on its intent to create new models of innovation. It does not effectively address this criterion from the perspective of specific legislative or policy actions.” – Reviewer #1
In summation, the reviewers of Missouri’s Race to the Top application saw conditions for significant education reforms in the state as poor. Four out of the five reviewers gave the application zero points in this section. The lone reviewer who awarded two points in this section did so based on parts of the application outside of this section.
It is not too late during the 2010 legislative session to pass significant education reforms to aggressively compete for Missouri’s share of this $4.35 billion fund. June 1st is the deadline for Round 2 applications. According to federal legislation authorizing the Race to the Top fund, all money must be distributed to the winning states by September 30, 2010. Round two is the State’s last shot at competing for this unprecedented pool of much needed money.
Full scorecards and review sheets can be found online at http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/phase1-applications/index.html
