The Shadow
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – West Virginia missed its first shot at new federal education funding partly because it lacks charter schools and has struggled to turn around its worst schools, a review of the state’s scores shows.
Those two factors cost the state the most points during the opening round of the $4.35 billion Race to the Top competitive grant program.
West Virginia also lost points for the way it evaluates teachers and principals, an unclear reform agenda and a lack of progress raising student achievement. It won near-perfect marks for setting standards and assessing performance, and also earned credit for devoting funds to education and setting up a statewide data system.
All told, West Virginia scored 292 out of a possible 500 points – a poorer showing than Washington, D.C, and all but five of the 39 other states that applied. It placed ahead of Alabama, New Hampshire, Nebraska, Arizona and South Dakota.
Gov. Joe Manchin has vowed to convene a special legislative session to ensure West Virginia secures funding from the next batch of grants. The deadline is June 1. He has challenged the state Department of Education to help him shape the session’s agenda.
While his office continues to review the results, state schools Superintendent Steve Paine expects the session’s agenda to include charter schools and revamped personnel policies.
“Right now, I think it’s about teaching quality and leadership in the schools,” Paine said Tuesday. “I think that’s the real critical issue that we need to address in a special session.”
But Paine also said that the recently launched Global 21 learning plan must also be given a chance to work. He cited the state’s high scores for developing high-quality standards.
“I do believe the direction we’re headed in is exactly the right direction,” Paine said.
Race to the Top aims to encourage states to pursue innovative ways to boost student achievement. Among the 16 states deemed finalists, Delaware and Tennessee won funding in the first round. Of the $600 million awarded, Tennessee will get $500 million.
With a half-dozen categories, the program’s scoring system offered up to 40 points for states that promote “high-performing” charter or outside-the-box schools. Charter schools rely on public funds but operate independently, and can compete with regular schools for students and per-pupil aid.
West Virginia officials had hoped to land at least 15 of those points, citing the new “innovation zone” program that allows eligible schools to waive certain rules and policy requirements.
The state ended up with only 5 points. Of the 10 other states without charter schools, three scored below West Virginia and six did not apply.
“It’s obvious that we lost a substantial number of points for not having charter schools,” Paine said.
West Virginia’s Senate considered allowing charter schools during the recent regular session. Supporters scuttled the bill in the face of attacks from groups representing teachers.
Since the state learned it had lost the opening round, those unions have appeared more willing to discuss the topic. But they’ve also suggested the state wait until findings from a study of charter schools by the governor’s 21st Century Jobs Cabinet.
In written comments that accompanied West Virginia’s score results, all five of the federal officials who reviewed its application noted the absence of charter schools. Several also questioned whether the innovation zones initiative can serve as a sufficient alternative.
Reviewers also criticized West Virginia’s handling of its 51 schools deemed chronically low-achieving. Paine’s department has had to take over a half-dozen of the state’s 55 county school systems because of their performance.
“There is no charter law so no restart option,” one reviewer noted.
