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WEAC President: Race to the Top statement
Posted: 7/27/2010 3:17:07 PM
July 27, 2010
Contact: Christina Brey, 608.213.3497
Mary Bell, president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council, released the following statement on the announcement that the state’s second round Race to the Top application was not selected to advance in the federal grant competition.
“Educators are disappointed that our state was not selected, but know that Wisconsin still can and must move ahead on education reform that works. We had hopes we would be among the states that advanced in Race to the Top, because our union is committed to improving the quality of our public schools. With or without federal funding, however, our state has begun a solid path to education reform. Many of the initiatives in Wisconsin’s application are being undertaken by school districts across Wisconsin, and if we rally around them as a state, our students will reap the benefits.
“The partnerships created as the application was developed will continue – and that’s good for Wisconsin. Educators, administrators and school boards worked together in this process, and that will continue, because school improvement is something we all value. This is an opportunity to bring meaningful change to our schools for the benefit of our communities and state.
“As a union of educators, we have shown we are willing to do our part. Such as supporting legislative changes to allow test scores as part of teacher evaluation and policy changes to allow the state superintendent to intervene in struggling schools.
“This collaboration is important. Even Secretary of Education Arne Duncan pointed to the importance of education and policy leaders working together to achieve change – because that’s the best way to find solutions that can succeed.
“Today’s news reminds us that Wisconsin and Washington need to look at the big picture when it comes to school improvement. Race to the Top isn’t the silver bullet to address all the challenges our schools face. Policies that are built to last are the only ones that will result in lasting improvements for our students, schools and communities. And, while there’s no shortage of good ideas, funding shortfalls have made it difficult for schools to hold steady, let alone provide a means to implement meaningful change. We need to work together to move Wisconsin’s schools forward, and this is another sign that stable and fair funding for schools – at the national and state level – is something we all should demand.”
