Duncan v. Schwarzenegger - wrestling for education stimulus dollars for California

Will California see any of the new federal stimulus dollars, "Race to the top?" Today's speech by Arne Duncan, US Department of Education Secretary, brewed more frustration by Duncan against California. Duncan has long criticized California's education system calling it "ridiculous" and "mind-boggling." California is at risk of losing precious federal aid dollars, that is the bottom line.

There has been ample warning of federal officials' position toward California's governing administration. On May 22, 2009, in a speech in San Francisco, Duncan accused California of leading an education "retreat." Duncan pointed out that California, "once had the best education system." On March 17, Congress sent Governor Arnold SchwarzeneggerArnold Schwarzenegger a warning letter warning about spending federal stimulus money, "It has been suggested that the state has some ability to intercept the [stimulus] dollars. It does not – and it is the intent of Congress that local education agencies may determine how to spend that fund." Speaking about California, on March 21, 2009, Barack ObamaBarack Obama said that "transparency will be a hallmark of his presidency. But following the money in the stimulus package won't be easy." http://www.examiner.com/x-5067-Education-in-the-News-Examiner~y2009m3d30-Schwarzenneger-slapped-on-wrist-by-Congress-for-threatening-education-stimulus-money

After all of the warnings and criticisms aimed at California's education plan, California is still not in compliance to receive further stimulus money. At issue now is a California law that disallows measurement of state test scores to evaluate teacher merit.
Duncan contends that California has one of the worst record-keeping and data collection systems in evaluating teachers and schools.

Arne Duncan has been pushing for education reform nationally, but California has been a sticking point for the nation's compliance in utilizing the stimulus money. Because of misuse of the money by certain governors, Duncan has changed the way that the money will be distributed. It will be apportioned in grants based on applications and assurances of the allocation and spending of the federal money toward local education agencies.

It is rumored that Duncan will pay out education stimulus money through grants competitively, now only to a few states that qualify.

Rewriting California legislation for compliance to receive the stimulus money will be difficult in light of the teachers unions' collective bargaining agreements and the complication of changing legislation which has been said could cause confusion within the education codes. California's administration denies that legislation needs any revision in the first place, claiming that Duncan might have misinterpreted the California law in question.

Another matter to clear up is California's record keeping system that would help to evaluate and pinpoint education gaps. There has been no word yet from California's Department of Education or Arnold Schwarzenegger's office with respect to upcoming changes in record keeping and/or legislation.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-teachers24-2009jul24,0,6767455.story?page=2&track=rss
http://www.examiner.com/x-5067-Education-in-the-News-Examiner~y2009m5d30-Arne-Duncan-puts-pressure-on-state-law-makers-for-education-reform-or-face-losing-funding

http://www.examiner.com/x-5067-Education-in-the-News-Examiner~y2009m7d13-Arne-Duncan-pushes-for-teacher-merit-pay--the-politics-and-parents-rights

http://www.examiner.com/x-5067-Education-in-the-News-Examiner~y2009m4d14-US-Department-of-Education-issues-new-spending-guidelines-to-governors-for-stimulus-money