Race+to+The+Top-Curriculum

= Race to the Top and Its Impact on Curriculum = by Kristine Bull, Thomas Wimmer and Theresa Cirincione

Image from http://www.busybuzzblogging.com/6590/race-to-the-top-winners-2010-announced/

__**A Small Clip from President Obama:**__ President and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan paid a visit to Graham Road Elementary School in Falls Church, Virginia where they had a chat with about 30 6th grade students. The conversation put a face to the people they were trying to help with the President's latest investment of more than a billion dollars in next year's budget to amp up the President’s "Race to the Top" program – a competition to incentivize success that has already generated an overwhelming response from states, with over 30 states expected to compete for first-round funding. (from ed.gov)

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__**Background:**__ ~The Common Core State Standards Initiative are educational standards for English and Math, and are developed by the states. The Standards are voluntarily adopted by states which choose to incorporate them.The Initiative includes standards which are designed to prepare students for life after high school. ~Race to the Top is a competitive grant worth $4,350,000,000. ~The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was signed into law February 19, 2009.

__**Purpose:**__ Race to the Top is an effort to encourage and reward States which do the following: 1. creating conditions for education innovation and reform 2. Achieving sugnificant improvement in student outcomes 3. making substantial gains in student achivement 4. closing achievement gaps 5. Improving high school graduation rates 6. ensuring student preparation for success in the future

__**Another extremely large purpose is to implement ambitious plans in four core education reform areas:**__ A. Adopting standards and assessments which force students to be more successful in the later years B. Build data systems which measure student achievement and success. This data is available to the teachers and principles for their use to improve instruction C. Recruiting, developing, rewarding, and retaining effective teachers and administration. D. Turning around our lowest-achieving schools.

__**Common Core State Standards Initiative Website**__ http://www.corestandards.org/the-standards

The standards are informed by the highest, most effective models from states across the country and countries around the world, and provide teachers and parents with a common understanding of what students are expected to learn. Consistent standards will provide appropriate benchmarks for all students, regardless of where they live. These standards define the knowledge and skills students should have within their K-12 education careers so that they will graduate high school able to succeed in entry-level, credit-bearing academic college courses and in workforce training programs. (http://www.corestandards.org/about-the-standards)

__**States that have adopted the Common-Core Standards:**__

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