Leave Racing for the Olympics. Education is Not a Game

[Tuesday, January 28, 2014]? Mister Obama said, “Race to the Top, with the help of governors from both parties, has helped states raise expectations and performance…The problem is we’re still not reaching enough kids, and we’re not reaching them in time, and that has to change.” There is a reason. “Mismatches in Race to the Top Limit Educational Improvement.” [Please read the report.]

Our Race To The Top hastened our decent to the bottom. What we have done confirms the research and also our human experience; intrinsic motivation moves minds…. money [competitive grants] leave us behind. Education is not a game! If the question is how do children truly learn, competition is not the answer. In a desire to go faster we have created an education disaster. Let us stop the race and recognize the process! Learning takes time; it is an investment!! Let us go for the gold. Embrace the goal – Provide an Opportunity to Learn for All Our Children!

We were thrilled that he continued to emphasize education throughout his speech — especially the urgent need for universal access to high quality Pre-K and other early education programs. As President Obama said: “Research shows that one of the best investments we can make in a child’s life is high-quality early education.”

However, we need to find an equitable way to achieve this important goal. Obama’s reliance on competitive grants, known as Race to the Top, pits states and districts against each other at a time when most education budgets are still dangerously underfunded.

Tell President Obama: we need real solutions, not more competitions.

Even worse, many of the requirements for eligibility aren’t proven solutions, and can even have a negative effect on our schools: increases in charter schools, increased standardized testing, and untested programs of teacher evaluation. Nor do the grants provide the serious funding and resources needed to make sure children can meet the high standards that Race to the Top imposes.

Let’s face it: the only way we can achieve the promise of early childhood education is if it’s available to every child, especially those in underserved communities.

As Congress is at a standstill when it comes to funding new programs, President Obama has promised to convene “a coalition of elected officials, business leaders, and philanthropists” to get started. Please take a moment to tell him: leave racing and jumping through hoops for the Olympics. All our children deserve equitable resources, not just those who win a competition. Take action now >>>