Utah seeks slice of big grant

If Utah gets a slice of the $4.35 billion "Race to the Top" pie, just how should it be served up?

More technology in classrooms, increased funding for charter schools, improved student assessment, higher quality teachers — the list goes on and on as far as upgrading Utah's public-education system.

About 100 state public-education leaders joined forces Wednesday at a five-hour summit led by the State Board of Education to toss myriad ideas into the mix on how to get the money, and then how to spend it.

The "Race to the Top" initiative comes out of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The goal is to encourage and reward states that are creating conditions for education innovation and reform. States are to make gains in student achievement, including improving high-school graduation rates and ensuring students are prepared for success in college and careers, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

The suggestions made Wednesday will be summarized and taken around the state to parents, school-board members and teachers to gather feedback and more ideas on improving public education. "Let's all unite our passion toward that end," said state Superintendent Larry Shumway.

Applications for the federal grant will arrive at the state education office in about two weeks, after which the department has until December to fill out the forms.

Utah should know by the end of the year how much money it will receive, but state education leaders are hoping for 10 percent of the $4.35 billion, or around $4o0 million.

Because the state is already doing many of the grant requirements, the odds of getting a nice chunk of change are looking positive. "I think we have a pretty good chance," said Brenda Hales, associate superintendent for student achievement and school success.

"In terms of what we'll spend the money on, that is why we're having these meetings," she said.

Kim Frank, policy and advocacy director for the Utah Association of Public Charter Schools, said she would like to see equity in funding for charter schools, as well as lifting the enrollment cap for charter schools to allow for high-quality growth.

"The whole point of the Race to the Top fund is innovation. Charter schools are innovative. But we can't be innovative without money," she said. "It all takes money."

Rep. David Clark, R-Santa Clara, said he would like to see funding go for technology in schools, especially because the state board wants to move toward computer-adaptive testing for students. Clark says the $50 million in one-time state funding for technology in 2007 "has demonstrated in a number of ways how it has helped the classroom."

In conjunction with the "Race to the Top," the state board has created four goals, dubbed "Promises to Keep" for Utah's schoolchildren. The goals are to ensure literacy and numeracy; provide high-quality instruction; establish curriculum with high standards and relevance; and require effective assessment to inform high-quality instruction and accountability.

Wednesday's discussions included university professors, along with Higher Education Commissioner William Sederburg, school-district representatives from Logan to Washington, Gov. Gary Herbert and various lawmakers.

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