How Will Race to the Top Affect Classrooms in Rye and Blind Brook?

When U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced last month that New York won $700 million in the Race to the Top competition, New York State Education Commissioner David M. Steiner said the funds would "help lift the level of achievement" for students across the state.

But administrators in Rye and Rye Brook are doubtful that the Race to the Top (RTTT) money—and the associated mandates for the state implementation of teacher assessments and federal curriculum guidelines—will have a significant effect in local classrooms.

Rye City School District Superintendent Ed Shine said that the New York State Education Department (NYSED) hasn't yet provided additional information on the allocation of the Race to the Top funding or mandates since it was awarded late last month.

"I imagine it will take some time to allocate the funds and to develop the regulations related to school district use of the funds," he said.

Blind Brook Superintendent William Stark said that Title One districts—those with significant financial need—will likely see more RTTT funding than wealthier districts like Blind Brook and Rye.

"I can see some districts that are high-need benefitting from this," Stark explained. But he also noted that struggling school districts will also have to account for the costs of monitoring the spending of the funding.

Stark said it's important for all districts that receive RTTT funding to keep in mind that "this money is not forever money. Before you decide to use this money to set up a program, you have to realize the money's not going to be there."

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) said in a statement that the $700 million award will be used for 27 projects over the course of four years, with half of the funds allotted to school districts and charter schools.

The other $350 million will "be used to build the capacity of educators statewide and directly support new curriculum models, standards, assessments, teacher and principal preparation and professional development, and the statewide student data system."

One stipulation of the state's use of the RTTT money is implementing state-regulated teacher assessments over the course of four years.

Both NYSED and New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), which represents teacher unions in Rye and Blind Brook, have acknowledged the necessity of new teacher assessment models.

In an effort to bolster union leadership in teacher accountability, NYSUT is launching a pilot project this school year called the Innovation Initiative.

While no teachers unions or school districts in Westchester County are yet participating in the three-year pilot, NYSUT said in a statement that the "new system will be based on multiple measures to capture the range of skills and abilities that define teacher effectiveness."

State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer (D-Port Chester) said that the new protocol for evaluations will make it easier for districts to remove teachers that aren't meeting standards. 

"When it becomes necessary to consider termination of a tenured teacher or principal, the reforms provide for an expedited 60-day hearing process for educators who demonstrate a pattern of ineffective teaching or performance," she said. "In the past, the length and expense of the hearing process made it almost prohibitive for school districts to take such action."

Jaime Zung, President of the Rye Teachers Association, declined to comment on how state-regulated assessments would affect Rye's teachers.

In Blind Brook, Stark said that the district is focused on developing a holistic assessment model for its untenured teachers.

"We've really been ahead on this sort of issue," he said. "We assess people, that's part of what administrators do, but they're more than just a pencil and paper test."

He explained that Blind Brook has implemented a "teacher portfolio package." Teachers are assessed on their participation with students, in extracurriculars, and their teaching methods. Every two months, the Board of Education receives a portfolio with information on the progress of the district's probationary teachers.

Blind Brook Board of Education President Steven Kaplan said that he believes state officials are "trying to move education forward," but more dialogue is needed to find a balance between creating meaningful state regulations while also allowing for localities to address their specific needs.

"I hope going forward that there will be a more measured approach," Kaplan said.

In Rye City schools, Shine said that "although the state has minimum requirements, Rye has developed and implemented higher standards in all our areas assessed by the state."

"Locally, we never believe state regulation is a good thing," Shine said. "However, we know that regulations are a necessity and it is our obligation to comply." 

While both Rye and Blind Brook's schools exceed current state standards, Stark said that the RTTT stipulations will help to augment both teacher and student accountability.

"Anything that's going to maintain the bar at a reasonable level is always a good thing," he said.