Delaware's race to the top

Education leaders in Delaware are hoping advancements in school reform that were already underway will help the state win federal grant money through the Obama administration's "Race to the Top" program.

Governor Jack Markell says the state sent its application to U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan this week.  Markell says while  some other states like New York have seen division among school leaders concerning how the grant application should be put together, Delaware has 100% support from all districts and charter schools for its application.

In his letter to Duncan, Markell says, "Each one of us is personally committed to driving the kind of change that will be necessary to deliver on our most important promise, that every Delaware student will graduate career and college ready."  Markell says changes approved earlier this month require teachers to demonstrate student growth in order to be considered an effective educator.

The Race to the Top aims to raise student improvement nationwide by rewarding states and school systems with federal funding for implementing parts of the administration's reform plan.  The program is expected to cost more than $4 billion.

See Lillian Lowery talk about her first year as Delaware's Secretary of Education and her efforts to create a world class education system in the First state.