By Benjamin Yount Illinois Statehouse News
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois will find out Monday if it’s one of the states that will share in billions of dollars in federal money from Race To the Top. But education leaders in the state don’t sound optimistic.
Illinois is among 16 finalists, but only a handful will be selected as winners next week.
Matt Vanover, spokesman for the Illinois State Board of Education, said education leaders in Washington, D.C., had set an early-April date to award the first round of Race To the Top money.
The federal program is awarding competitive grants to states that submitted plans outlining education reforms such as setting new achievement standards, collecting student performance data, developing effective teachers and principals, and turning around low-achieving schools.
Vanover said a Monday announcement is a bit surprising, but not shocking. He’s trying to keep expectations in line with reality.
Robin Steans with the educational advocacy group Advance Illinois was more blunt.
Steans said she doesn’t think so.
And it may be problems at the State Board of Education that will keep Illinois out of the top four.
Race To the Top officials in Washington focused on Illinois’ high number of students compared to a low number of school administrators. Vanover said other states have better numbers than Illinois.
But Vanover said the state board does not know where it will be once the results are announced. He said Illinois education officials remain optimistic.
Steans said she expects Illinois to get some money as part of Race To the Top – eventually. She hoped that an answer on Monday will help education leaders and state lawmakers craft a plan for schools and settle some lingering questions about the next state budget.
“Anyway you slice it, it’s a plus if we get these dollars for planning purposes both at the state level and at the district level,” Steans said. ”But keep in mind these dollars are not to be used…to plug operational holes.”
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has said he’ll cut $1.3 billion from education if lawmakers don’t approve his proposed 33 percent income tax increase created specifically for education funding.
Lawmakers have been hoping for money from Race To the Top since Illinois sent off its application in January.
Illinois is among the following as finalists: Colorado, Delaware, Washington D.C., Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Tennessee.
