November 12, 2009
by Maura Walz
http://gothamschools.org/2009/11/12/confident-state-ed-officials-press-forward-on-race-to-the-top/

Brushing aside criticism that current state laws could jeopardize New York’s chances at Race to the Top Funds, state officials say they will enter the contest in round one.

On Monday, the State Education Department will release a comprehensive plan to overhaul teacher training, Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch said today. [...]

By SCOTT WALDMAN, Staff writer
November 13, 2009
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=865152&category=ALBANY&BCCode=&newsdate=11/13/2009
The race is on for $4.5 billion in federal education dollars.

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Education ended months of anxiety for school administrators nationwide when it announced its criteria for the Race to the Top funds, which will be awarded to about a dozen states that can demonstrate [...]

November 10, 2009
by Anna Phillips
http://gothamschools.org/2009/11/10/dept-of-ed-on-the-hunt-for-ell-and-vocational-high-schools/

Principal wannabes hoping to open up new city high schools got marching orders from city officials last night: Try to focus on students still learning English or vocational programs.

The advice came at a meeting held by the Office of Portfolio Planning, where more than a dozen people stood before an audience [...]

By YOAV GONEN
November 12, 2009
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/teachers_must_give_to_take_XHX2YDuF4mlCFHHiOkYH0I

The city can’t afford to give raises to teachers in line with those given to other unions without significant cost-saving concessions, according to a new report released yesterday.

Mayor Bloomberg this week suggested that the current union bargaining pattern of a 4 percent pay hike for two consecutive years — for which [...]

November 10, 2009
By PATRICK EGAN
http://www.mounthopemonitor.org/?p=373

When school started this past September at three local schools, hundreds of kids, and their parents, had to face the reality that the afterschool program they’d once counted on no longer had room for them.

The program, run by the non-profit Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, served 635 children last year. [...]

By Thomas W. Carroll
November 13th 2009
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/11/13/2009-11-13_get_into_shape_to_win_the_race.html

New York has the chance to win up to $350 million in federal education dollars through the Obama administration’s Race to the Top competition.

But unless the state’s leaders reach agreement on several key reforms quickly, our application will likely be stuck in the middle, not sitting on top, of the [...]