Update: RI among 10 winning 'Race to the Top' millions
ATLANTA (AP) — The U.S. Education Department says Rhode Island, eight other states and the District of Columbia will receive money in the second round of the $4.35 billion "Race to the Top" school reform grant competition. Department spokesman Justin Hamilton says the winners are: Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C. The amounts of the grants are expected to be announced later.Superintendent Gist and the superintendents, teachers and parents who have supported the application reflect the hard work and commitment to the welfare of our children. Your hard work has been rewarded. Now we have a chance to improve our educational system into the one we need to prepare them to grow, develop, mature and prepare for life in the 21st century. To those who have opposed the process for short term and regressive ideals about the role of unions and work to rule, it is time to put that behind you and join in building Rhode Island into what it can become, instead of fighting to keep it what it has become.
Again, Congratulations to those who work so hard for it and to the students will benefit from the grant.
But a word of caution, this is only the beginning. Let's make certain that the plan is followed, the results evaluated and the system is really working.
