The Doings-Clarendon Hills
January 21, 2010
By Hank Beckman

While most of the political energy in Washington is being spent on heath-care reform, there are other pressing issues facing the nation, including education.

"Education is on the back-burner right now," U.S. Judy Biggert, R-13th, of Hinsdale, said Jan. 14 at a round-table discussion that she initiated with local representatives of education and teachers unions to discuss the state's progress in obtaining funds from the Race to the Top federal grant money that becomes available this year.

Part of the Obama administration's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the legislation sets aside $4.35 billion for the Race to the Top fund, a competitive grant program that is designed to create education innovation and reform, particularly in the areas of student achievement and improving high school graduation rates.

Four reforms targeted by the grants will be establishing standards and assessments for students, implementing systems to measure student progress, teacher development and turning around low achieving schools.

Applications for the first phase of the grants were due this week, and the funds will be awarded in April, when the applications for the second phase are due.

But as with many federal grants, there are strings attached.

To meet the requirements, the state's approach must be comprehensive regarding the four goals, must place a priority on science and math, must include strategies for improving early learning and must move toward establishing state-wide data systems for measuring the progress of numerous academic problem areas.

About 330 of the 1,000 school districts in Illinois have signed memorandums of understanding indicating support for Illinois' plan.

State Rep. Darlene Senger, R-96th of Naperville, said sources have told her Illinois is likely to qualify for between $200 million and $400 million in grants. Senger indicated that plans were for the state to ask for $500 million, saying "a lot of people are working very hard to make this happen."

Discussion of the separate topics sparked a lively back-and-forth.

Naomi Shepherd, with the Illinois Education Association, stressed the factors beyond a teacher's control.

"You can't control the quality of the child that shows up," she said.

But Jerome Brendel, Woodridge District 68 superintendent, stressed the need for accountability, noting the improvement in test scores since the implementation of No Child Left Behind.

"We wouldn't change until someone said 'if you don't change, you're not going to get money.' "

Carrie Cox, of Orland District 230 Teacher's Association, disagreed, saying NCLB had been underfunded. She also said that, while her district didn't need any of the grants, Illinois could help districts in need "by paying its bills."