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As part of Texas' quest for a piece of the federal $4.35 billion Race to the Top fund, the state is required to demonstrate the extent to which local school districts and "local teacher union leaders (if applicable)" have signed off on participating in the program.
With the Jan. 19 application deadline looming, the Texas Education Agency is hurriedly trying to gather as many signatures as possible from local school district leadership.
Since most Texas districts have multiple teacher organizations represented, superintendents who want to sign on may ask local TCTA leaders and/or those of other groups for signatures.
The larger issue is that the state is asking for these signatures before the state has completed its application, thus leaving those being asked to sign off in a position of being asked to support a proposal they haven't already seen.
TCTA has been invited to give input on what the state's application should contain as well; however, we are in the same quandary regarding being able to give informed commentary on the state's application sight unseen.
TCTA submitted comments to the United States Department of Education when the Race to the Top fund proposed criteria was published, expressing significant concerns, among other things, about the emphasis in the criteria on evaluating, paying and terminating teachers based on student performance on tests.
Although the final criteria were modified as a result of public comment, TCTA's concerns, for the most part, have not been addressed.
These are all issues for local TCTA leadership to consider if approached by your school district about signing off on the state's Race to the Top application, assuming that your local administration wants to show support. If asked, use your best judgment in weighing the prospect of more funding against unknown stipulations for spending those funds.
Updated: 12/03/09
