Every Thursday, REL-NEI highlights state-based resources, press releases, and news around the Northeast and Islands Region related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). For a listing of REL Issues & Answers Reports categorized under ARRA topics and domains, click here.
RI Commissioner Gist Hosts Forums on Race to the Top
On November 27th, The Providence Journal reported on a November 23rd meeting at Toll Gate High School in Warwick, Rhode Island, that drew about 150 educators, parents, political leaders and school committee members to discuss how the state can strengthen its chances of receiving a portion of the $4.35 billion federal Race to the Top fund.
Education Commissioner Deborah A. Gist told the group that Rhode Island will “aggressively pursue the funds, which could finance a host of ambitious reforms she wants to pursue.” These reforms include: improving educator quality, developing data systems to monitor and advance student performance, establishing tough academic standards, and intervening in struggling schools.
While Education Secretary Arne Duncan released guidelines stating small states like Rhode Island can receive between $20 million and $75 million from Race to the Top, Gist told the crowd she may ask for at least $100 million, according to the Journal.
The community forum was the third Gist has hosted across the state since November 9th. The final forum will be held Monday, December 7th, at 6 p.m. at Central High School in Providence. For more information, visit the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) website.
On November 23rd, Rhode Island Governor
Donald L. Carcieri
together with Education Commissioner Gist, the Rhode Island Afterschool Plus Alliance, and the National Center on Time and Learning announced $100,000 in planning grants to help four urban schools extend the school day and rethink the way the day is organized. According to The Providence Journal, the money is funded by the General Assembly and will go to schools in Central Falls, Providence, and Woonsocket. At the news conference, Gist said the extended school day initiative is a key part of the state’s application for Race to the Top grants. Read a press release from the Governor’s office.
In an Education Week article on November 30th, Debra Viadero wrote about the details starting to emerge about a study planned by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to determine what states are doing with their education money under the stimulus law and whether the efforts being funded improve schooling.
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) is the lead office on the research project, which also will involve ED’s office of policy, planning, and evaluation. Sue Betka, IES deputy director for administration and policy planning, said IES plans to spend $35 million over the next two years to get the evaluation up and running, according to Viadero. The study is expected to last at least five years, as researchers examine whether the strategies states put in place using stimulus money make a difference in education quality.
For more information, visit these ARRA-related websites across the Northeast and Islands Region:
U.S. Department of Education
http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/index.html
State Recovery Sites
http://www.recovery.gov/?q=content/state-local-tribal-and-territorial-resources
State Education Agency Recovery Sites
Education Week’s “Schools and the Stimulus”
http://www.edweek.org/ew/collections/schools-stimulus/index.html
© 2010 EDC, Inc. | Home | Newsletter | Disclaimer | Feedback | | Back to top