Texas Districts, Charters Advance in Federal Contest
By the end of the year, a few Texas school districts may have access to millions in funding that Gov. Rick Perry had passed on two years ago because of concerns about federal intrusion into Texas classrooms.
Since Texas refused to participate in Race to the Top at the state level in 2010, the Obama administration has rolled out a new version of its signature education program to allow districts to apply individually for a separate pot of about $400 million in federal money. Administration officials announced the new round of competition that would emphasize data-driven personalized student learning plans ...
Comments (2)
Al Cervera
Disappointed that San Antonio schools did not apply. Seems to me they should have.
The Governor plays both ends. The National Governor's Conference is majority Republican. State standards set by our laughable State Board of Education are not designed to prepare Texas kids for the "high paying jobs of the future" which the Governor keeps on saying he is using State funds under his direct control to create. Never mind that he rewards political cronies with these funds. That is another story.
Texans are not well informed about the "good old boy" system in Austin. All we have to do is read the article on electric rates to see that the State Legislature if not "consumer oriented"! If they really understood, they would "throw the rascals out"-----starting with our Governor!
David Spratt
The Feds march onward,, or is that Forward? Charters and privates are gaining in support. Another example of free market choices and the ability of the private sector to provide services and a product cheaper and with more efficiency than the Government
This ability relies on the private sector to make decisions tailored to individual circumstances and the needs of those being served. There is a effort to effect the homogenization of education with the idea that the educational experience of a school in rural North Dakota is exactly the same as a school in the center of New York City. Further the " core curriculum" expands the idea that the beliefs , morality , ideology and the general societal direction of a population is best changed by starting very early in the schools and is best achieved in the long run by influencing and indoctrinating the children. This is the general idea behind the one size fits all approach.Ultimately we will all be taught the same thing , hold the exact same beliefs and in effect be carbon copies of one another.
If these private institutions begin to suckle from the governmental teat ,, they will find they must tow the party line , so to speak. The people now that are sending their children to these private schools in an effort to avoid the Liberal progressive indoctrination prevalent in the public school system will find the private and charter schools will end up being not that much different from current public education in the long run.
The camel has just peeked under the tent,, before you know it he will be hump deep in the tent. Government money is addictive as heroine to an addict. The recent election proves this. While recent polls suggest a majority of Americans believe the economy will not be improved going forward,,, and a significant amount believe it will get much worse,,,,,,, Obama won.
Congrats to the left,,,, YOU WON !!! But exactly what did you win? Increased taxes,,,,, 20+ bil debt in 4 years,,,,,, ObmaCare with it's taxes , reduced employment, reduced hrs,, most likely higher unemployment,,,, increasing poverty,,, growing welfare roles,,, declining incomes,,, more regulation,,,reduction of military power just to name a few things.. GOOD WORK !!!
A person has to wonder why this is. The logical conclusion suggests most voted for the safety and security of big government seeing the largess of government as preferable to taking a chance on the unknown and electing a Vulture capitalist, and another mean rich white guy.
This choice was made even knowing the current general fiscal policies are unsustainable and will ultimately end in disaster.
Better to stick with what I can get today,,, and just have a general belief that things will get better somehow,,,,? Optimistic pessimism I think is what you call it.
Go ahead and take that first hit off the governmental glass pipe,,,,,,, for those who have not already been smoking. The ones who have already been hooked have forgotten what they gave up in return,,,, but it does not matter to them. The only thing that matters is that they get more this year than last ,,, and even more into the future. The absolute bliss that results will sooth the conscience and the more you comply the more they will give you.
No ,, the smart ones will figure out ways to provide quality education on their terms , to their standards and preserve their integrity without resorting to bellying up to the Federal trough.