Delaware competes for education funding

Officials with Delaware’s Department of Education are in Washington D.C. today, making a pitch to try and get a share of federal Race to the Top funds.

Delaware Governor Jack Markell along with Secretary of Education Lillian Lowery and Deputy Secretary Dan Cruce are in Washington D.C. today,  making a pitch to try and get a share of federal Race to the Top education funds.

Delaware was one of 16 finalists selected from 40 states in phase one of the program.  Monday’s presentation gives Delaware officials the opportunity to expand on the ideas submitted in the original proposal.

“This is like a job interview, this is a chance to go in and explain what our resume looks like,” Ron Gough, Delaware Department of Education spokesman, said.

Race to the Top is a national education reform effort with $4.35 billion in recovery act funds earmarked for states to address issues such as improving systems to measure student growth, recruiting and rewarding outstanding teachers,  and  helping students prepare for college and workplace success.

Gough says the fact Delaware made the cut in this first round of applications is encouraging.

“What makes our application more unique is that every school district, every charter school, every union and every school board in the state signed on to our application which shows the incredible support we have from the entire community.  So we’re very hopeful we have what it takes to be one of the states selected to receive money,” Gough said.

Delaware’s application comes as students statewide are in the final year of using the DSTP assessment, and will transition to the Delaware Comprehensive Assessment System, or DCAS.

Applicants will find out whether they qualify as a Race to the Top funding winner in April.