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Vermont sits out first round in Race to the Top competition

By Molly Walsh • Free Press Staff Writer • Monday, January 25, 2010

Vermont did not show up at the starting line for the first round of the federal Race to the Top education grant competition last week but state officials say they will go after a piece of the more than $4 billion at stake in the second round set for June.

Even with more time Vermont is likely to be a longshot in the competition. The grant program being touted by President Obama and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan gives points to state applicants that promote reforms including charter schools, teacher merit pay and the linking of student performance data to teacher evaluations.

Vermont has no charter schools and is dominated by a union-negotiated compensation system for public school teachers that typically rewards educators on the basis of longevity, education level and national certifications. The notion of pay based on individual job performance or student outcomes has gained little traction in Vermont and school boards that have considered such proposals have often been met with strong opposition from unions. ...