School Districts Have to Figure Out What “Bold and Innovative” Means

Officials with local school districts are trying to figure out what the state expects them to do with their share of ‘Race to the Top’ money. Around $250 million from the federal education grant will be split among local districts.

The state wants it to be spent on programs that are “bold and innovative.”

Beth Cox is a member of the Sumner County School Board. She says it’s obvious her district needs to focus on math and science. The question is how to make sure the county’s approach fits the bill as “bold and innovative.”

“They’ve made it very clear that they can’t be old programs, they need to be new programs, so we are all going to be having to kind of take these ideas and take them home to our own schools and see how we can fill in those gaps.”

Education Commissioner Tim Webb has given some broad guidelines. He says he’s wary of investing in technology unless it serves a clear purpose – and is likely to really be used. He says he’d like to see districts find ways of giving students more instructional time. And he’s encouraging officials to consider changing the way teachers are paid, if they can reach an agreement with the local teacher’s union.