Round two of the Race to the Top (RTT) just got a very big boost. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Education Secretary Arne Duncan emphasized that the quality and pluck of a state’s application, not the level … read more >

A while back I predicted that the gloomy condition of state and district budgets would likely lead to calls for another federal stimulus, this time aimed primarily at schools. As if on cue, Senator Tom Harkin, chairman of the education … read more >

When Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced the first-round winners of the Race to the Top (Delaware and Tennessee), some immediately charged that politics had played a part in the selection process. Some said the awards were made to help bolster … read more >

The selection of Delaware and Tennessee as Race to the Top winners is not only newsworthy, it’s also very important. First, both states had good plans—not great plans but certainly good. The Education Department deserves credit for selecting only two … read more >

Later today, Education Secretary Arne Duncan will announce the winners in the first round of the Race to the Top competition. The first thing to look for is how many states are selected: the fewer winners, the better. If Duncan … read more >