Only Two states Win Race to Top
The first results for the government's Race to the Top competition, which will grant $4.35 billion in education aid to states sent a clear message to states that they will need to have the support of the unions, as well as change laws to get a piece of the money for education reform. The two states which received aid, Tennessee and Delaware, both passed new regulations regarding teacher pay and charter schools. Delaware got the support of all of its local unions, and 93% of the unions in Tennessee supported the states bid for money. While the American Federation of Teachers praised the awards, president Randi Weingarten said she was disappointed that the states did not have large cities. Some believe that the administration's tactics might backfire; instead of unions and state governments coming together to pass laws and work together for aid, relations might devolve into blaming the other side for not receiving money. The next round of grants is expected to be announced in late September, and officials say that these announcements were made to put pressure on other states.
See "Only Two states Win Race to Top", Neil King Jr., The Wall Street Journal, March 29, 2010