Washington students deserve state's best shot at Race to the Top funds

WASHINGTON state has the chance to improve its schools and gain unprecedented amounts of funding in the process.

This is the opportunity available to legislators through the federal government's Race to the Top competitive grant program, which aims to reward education reform and innovation.

A few well-chosen changes in state education law would improve the ability of Washington schools to serve our students — ensuring more graduates prepared for the challenges of college and workplace — and could bring hundreds of millions of new federal education funding to our state.

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has $4.3 billion to invest, and the Obama administration has been clear that the funds won't be spread across all 50 states. Awards will go to a relatively small number of states showing the best promise and boldest plans to improve student learning. Given our state budget's woeful condition, Washington cannot afford to be among those left out.

Washington has some positive factors in the sweepstakes. We were among the first to adopt standards-based educational reforms. Washington is among the top states in the number of teachers undergoing rigorous national board certification. And planned upgrades to our education data system will give teachers and administrators the ability to improve decision-making.

Unfortunately, these success stories won't be enough. Since the initial passage of education reform in the early 1990s, our track record has been characterized more by inaction and delay than innovation and determination. States that have been more strategic and systematic are better positioned.

Our success in securing this new money now depends on the Legislature taking bold actions this session and aligning Washington schools with the education goals of President Obama and Duncan.

First, legislators must reject any retreat on graduation requirements in math and science. Once in place, these requirements will help ensure that more students graduate prepared for college and work. When the feds are asking us to Race to the Top, we can't afford to slouch to the bottom.

Second, to ensure all students are taught in effective schools, we need to amend Washington law so the state can turn around persistently struggling schools. Currently, the state can intervene to address fiscal mismanagement, but not educational mismanagement. Aren't children more important?

Finally, we must bring the teaching profession into the 21st century. The Legislature's own Basic Education Funding Task Force recognized that it's time to revamp an outdated system that rewards teachers solely for their tenure, while ignoring their impact on student learning. The single most important influence on student achievement is the teacher. We need a system that rewards the very best.

If the Legislature takes these steps, we should be competitive for Race to the Top money. If it doesn't, Washington will be missing a critical opportunity to help our schools and passing up new money when we can least afford it.

Even if Washington does not receive Race to the Top funds, these changes are essential to providing our students with the education they deserve and to keeping our state economically competitive in the future.

Gov. Chris Gregoire recently announced that Washington would forgo the first round of Race to the Top applications in order to concentrate on putting our state's best foot forward in June during round two. This is a wise strategy, supported by the State Board of Education and Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn — the two others who must sign the application.

The Legislature must use this extra time to take bold and meaningful action. Washington has one shot at additional federal education money, and we need to make it count.