President Barack Obama is pushing his $5 billion "Race to the Top" fund to states as a method to adjust many aspects of the nation’s school systems.
Citing other countries that currently "out-educate" the United States and will eventually "out-compete" Americans for jobs in the future, Obama proposed his funding, which will award states who effectively make changes to their system to improve the education to its children.
"Not every state will win, and not every school district will be happy with the results," said Obama of the funding, according to the Associated Press. "But America’s children, America’s economy, America itself will be better for it."
The Race to the Top Fund is a $5 billion competitive grant that was part of the economic stimulus law passed in February. It is intended to "encourage and reward States that are creating the conditions for education innovation and reform; implementing ambitious plans in the four education reform areas described in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009," according to Ed.gov.
The site also adds that states receiving portions from the fund will have to accomplish certain goals, such as closing student’s achievement gaps and improving high school graduation rates to make sure that students can succeed in college and their career.
Certain criteria that must be met by states wishing to qualify for the fund – it does not support linking student data to teacher evaluations, but rather test scores as part of any bonus pay to teachers – have been met by criticism by teachers unions. However seven states – including Tennessee, Rhode Island, Indiana, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Colorado and Illinois – have already made changes to some of the restrictions for their charter school in order for them to qualify for the funding, the AP added.