Duncan Wants Reform in Return for Stimulus Money

Education Secretary Arne Duncan said this week that he wants the first wave of education funding in the economic recovery package to do more than prevent teacher layoffs and fill budget gaps. He called on states to use the resources for significant education reform in four areas: standards, data systems, teacher effectiveness, and interventions for low-performing schools.

According to the Department of Education, states must commit to improving student achievement through at least one of the following criteria:

• Making progress toward rigorous college- and career-ready standards and high-quality assessments that are valid and reliable for all students, including English language learners and students with disabilities.

• Establishing pre-K to college and career data systems that track progress and foster continuous improvement.

• Making improvements in teacher effectiveness and in the equitable distribution of qualified teachers for all students, particularly students who are most in need.

• Providing intensive support and effective interventions for the lowest-performing schools.

Because the Department is not releasing all of the recovery funds at once, how states use the money to drive these reforms could affect the resources they receive in the next wave of funding. "If we see states doing things that don't make sense—that aren't in the spirit of what this is about—they would put themselves in jeopardy of receiving the second set of money," warned Duncan.

In addition, to be eligible for a share of the Secretary's $5 billion Race to the Top Fund, which will be awarded through a competitive grant application process later this year, states must be able to show significant progress in each of the four areas. The money from the fund will be used to support and further develop innovative programs and practices that will serve as models of what works for other states.

Additional Resources:

• For more on the Secretary's plans for the stimulus funding, watch his recent interview with Education Week.

• Visit the Department of Education Web site for an overview of the distribution and implementation of stimulus funds as well as initial guidelines for the use of State Stabilization, Title I (Part A), and IDEA (Part B) funding.