en en id en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en es de en en en en en en fr nl en en en en en en fr en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en nl en en en en en nl en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en sv en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en fr en en en en en en en en en en en en en en fa en en en en en en en en fa en en en en en en en pt en en en fa en en en en en en en en fa en en en en en en en en fa en en en en en en en en fa en en en en en en en en fa en en en en en en en en fa en en en en en en
The climate crisis is the most complex challenge mankind has ever faced. We’re covering what edleaders and educators can do about it.
An exploration of new agreements, new practices, new tools and new opportunities.
Focusing on how making a difference has emerged as one of the most powerful learning experiences.
This campaign will serve as a road map to the new architecture for American schools. Pathways to citizenship, employment, economic mobility, and a purpose-driven life.
New learning models, tools, and strategies have made it easier to open small, nimble schooling models.
We share stories that highlight best practices, lessons learned and next-gen teaching practice.
RttT has already had biggest impact of any grant program
Race to the Top strikes again!  The mother of all grant programs has produced more reform than any grant program in history.  And the feds haven’t spent a dime yet.  Three quarters of the states have indicated that they’ll be applying for phase 1 grants in January and most have improved their plans, policies and laws in preparation.
This week the New York State Board of Regents passed a wide ranging set of reforms that improve the state’s odds of winning a giant federal Race to the Top (RttT) grant. As Tom Carroll’s NY Post article details, the Regents’ reforms will
Redesign the state testing system to incorporate classroom assessment
Improve teacher preparation with an emphasis on classroom instruction over theory
Improve teacher evaluation, add incentive compensation for advanced courses and high need schools
Ensure equitable distribution of teachers
Build a preschool to college data system that will monitor student growth
Improve college and career readiness and setting graduation rate goals
Build capacity to improve low performing schools and take over failing school districts
Lift the cap on charter schools and provide more equitable funding
Expand online learning opportunities
With only 12 weeks on the job, Chancellor David Steiner and his talented staff outlined these sweeping reforms with the full support of Chancellor Merryl Tisch.  Steiner is an unusually competent guy, but it is clear that the RttT framework and timeline helped accelerate this package of reforms.
The Regents need supporting action by the legislature on the charter cap, school and district takeovers, and an early sunset of the firewall between student data and teacher tenure decisions.  The Assembly’s support for these reforms could determine whether New York wins a monster grant.
I’ve spent much of the last 10 years thinking about how to construct grant and prize incentives that create leveraged impact.  Small grant programs typically seek to demonstrate a successful intervention and encourage subsequent adoption.  Race to the Top operates more like a prize—a compelling goal with a big reward—seeking to mobilize and ultimately transform an entire sector.
The Department of Education has suggested that few of the 37 states will win first phase grants.  If they are successful keeping the bar high, RttT will mobilize another round of improved plans and policies prior to phase two awards next summer.
Lots of the $4 billion will be wasted on ineffective deployment.  It’s also fair to say that RttT is more about bringing up the rear than advancing the front.  But that said, we can already say with confidence that Race to the Top has had the biggest impact of any education grant programs in history.
Tom Vander Ark is the CEO of Getting Smart. He has written or co-authored more than 50 books and papers including Getting Smart, Smart Cities, Smart Parents, Better Together, The Power of Place and Difference Making. He served as a public school superintendent and the first Executive Director of Education for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Discover the latest in learning innovations
Sign up for our weekly newsletter.
Afterschool Programs: Serving as Centers for Support, Access, and Equity
Think Global, Act Local: How to Embed SDGs in your school and Community
How Career and Technical Education Can Inform Competency-Based Learning
Getting Smart Podcast | Accessible, Affordable, Achievable HigherEd for Working Adults
Your email address will not be published. All fields are required.
Sign up to receive our weekly innovations in learning email newsletter:
Stay on the Cutting Edge of Learning Innovation
Subscribe to our weekly Smart Update!
Enter your email to get our weekly What If? questions sent to directly to your inbox!
Enter the information below to get signed up for our weekly Smart Update newsletter below so you don't miss any learning innovations. The more information, the more we will be able to personalize your email!
Are you interested in getting our weekly "What If?" question sent to your inbox? *
What is PBE (Spanish)
Please submit the following information and you will be given a link to download our free guide: What is Place-Based Education and Why Does it Matter?
Please submit the following information and you will be given a link to download our free guide: Designing Microschools: Why Launching Small Learning Environments Is a Big Idea
Download Quick Start Guide to Implementing Place-Based Education
Please submit the following information and you will be given a link to download our free guide: Quick Start Guide to Implementing Place-Based Education.
Download Quick Start Guide to Place-Based Professional Learning
Please submit the following information and you will be given a link to download our free guide: Quick Start Guide to Place-Based Professional Learning.
Download What is Place-Based Education and Why Does it Matter?
Please submit the following information and you will be given a link to download our free guide: What is Place-Based Education and Why Does it Matter?
Download 20 Invention Opportunities in Learning & Development
Please submit the following information and you will be given a link to download our free 20 Invention Opportunities in Learning and Development Report.