State must sharpen its game
Published 3:58 pm Friday, January 29, 2010
The Obama administration’s Race to the Top is a welcome competition that’s lighting fires under glacial public education systems throughout the country. It’s offering much-needed money out of a $4.3 billion pot to states that show they’re making serious, innovative gains in preparing all kids for success.
Washington, which by the state’s own analysis started behind in the race because it lacks certain favored policies — chiefly charter schools and teacher performance pay — is working to catch up. But not hard enough.
A bill put forward by Gov. Chris Gregoire takes some positive steps, but lacks the boldness it will likely take for Washington to qualify for sorely needed Race to the Top money. Given the ground our state must make up because we lack public charter schools and their potential for innovation (they’re vehemently opposed by the Washington Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union, and voters have rejected them three times), our best chance is to meet the administration’s goals on teacher effectiveness.
The governor’s proposal falls short of that, but there’s still time in the legislative session to strengthen it. Doing so won’t guarantee winning Race to the Top money, but it will begin making our K-12 system more accountable and effective. That’s a big win for our children, and our state’s future.
A key evaluation tool in Race to the Top criteria is student growth — a measure of student improvement over a particular period of time. Student growth should be the primary factor in evaluating teachers and principals, and it must be developed at the state level and implemented in all districts.
The governor’s plan, however, makes use of student growth data an issue to be bargained by school boards and teachers. That just gives districts a way out, and likely takes Washington out of the Race to the Top.
Rather than opposing Obama’s sensible criteria, the teachers union would better serve its members by getting behind the president’s idea and helping develop new student growth metrics. Teachers are the most important influence on student learning. Their input is obviously critical to getting reform right, but it will be limited if the union acts as a roadblock.
Besides, a recent poll of Washington K-12 public school teachers, conducted for the business-backed Partnership for Learning, showed 57 percent favor the administration’s broad teacher evaluation reforms. A poll of voters revealed 78 percent support. An overwhelming desire for bold action is clear.
That’s what the president is pushing for. It’s time for Washington to answer the call, by proving it’s ready to innovate for the good of its children.
