New Jersey is among 18 states (plus Washington, D.C.) whose applications for Race to the Top federal education reform funds have cleared a hurdle and are now considered finalists for a share of $3.4 billion in funds to help cash-strapped states fix struggling schools.
New Jersey is seeking more than $400 million. The office of Gov. Chris Christie -- who is in Washington today, incidentally, to meet with the New Jersey congressional delegation and Senate Republicans -- issued a statement from the governor about the announcement:
"This announcement affirms our decision to stick with real reform and not capitulate to the watered-down, failed status quo approach advocated by the NJEA. Now is the time for New Jersey's leaders to join me to begin enactment of the pillars of real education reform contained within our Race to the Top application -- more charter school opportunities for students, more choice for parents and fidelity to placing student success ahead of union self interest."
The Associated Press reports the states are Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and South Carolina.
From the Wall Street Journal:
"The Education Department used a panel of outside judges to score each application based on 19 criteria, including willingness to open charter schools, efforts to link teacher evaluations to student achievement and dedication to transforming the lowest-performing schools. States were graded on a scale of zero to 500 points.
"Finalists will make formal, in-person presentations before a judging panel in August. Winners will be named in September, and (Education Secretary Arne) Duncan said he expects to pick 10 to 15."
New Jersey's application last winter for the first round of funds didn't succeed, although only Delaware and Tennessee won in that round.
The second-round application generated political heat in New Jersey when the application was nearly amended days before its submission to make changes that would have gained the New Jersey Education Association's support, only to have concessions over merit pay negotiated by Education Commissioner Bret Schundler overruled by Christie.
