States setting pace on school change; Obama agenda stalled in Congress
By Nick Anderson/Washington Post
While states are moving fast to overhaul public schools, President Obama's education agenda is hitting a wall in Congress. Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced Tuesday that the District and 18 states, including Maryland, remain in the running for a share of $3.4 billion in the federal Race to the Top competition, with winners to be announced in September. The contest, funded by the 2009 economic stimulus law, has fueled support for making student achievement a significant factor in teacher evaluations and pay, easing limits on public charter schools and embracing national standards. (more...)