Duncan calls for ‘significant’ Race progress

If Hawaii doesn’t show progress in meeting education reform goals under its $75 million Race to the Top grant, the state will "end up in a tough spot" and could lose the money, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan warned Thursday.

In a conference call with reporters, Duncan also said he wants to see some "pretty significant improvements" in Hawaii’s Race to the Top progress by early next year. "If we don’t see things turning around, we have some tough decisions to make," Duncan said.

His remarks came a day after the U.S. Department of Education announced it was placing Hawaii’s Race grant on "high-risk" status, citing "unsatisfactory performance" and concerns about whether future pledges can be met. Hawaii is the first Race winner to be put on the status.

Duncan said no other states are in danger of being deemed "high risk."

The governor and state education officials have acknowledged disappointing Race to the Top progress and say they’ll act quickly to address issues.

In the conference call Thursday, U.S. DOE policy and program implementation Director Ann Whalen said Hawaii was placed on high-risk status because "they have not met the vast majority of their own commitments."

As of last week the state had spent about $4 million of its Race grant.

Hawaii snagged competitive Race to the Top money last year after pledging sweeping education reforms, including plans to turn around the lowest-performing schools and improve teacher effectiveness.

Hawaii was one of 10 winners — nine states and the District of Columbia — in a second round of grants. Two states won in the first round of Race to the Top, a signature education initiative under the Obama administration aimed at making big education reforms.

On Thursday, Duncan announced seven states as Race winners in a third round of grants open only to previous finalists. The states will share $200 million to advance improvements to K-12 education.

Duncan said that overall he was "extraordinarily pleased" with the reforms Race to the Top states have made, but added the U.S. DOE will hold states not seeing progress accountable to their pledges.

"We will absolutely track states’ Race progress," he said. "I’ve very hopeful about where we’re going. (But) we haven’t seen anywhere near the type of progress we need from Hawaii."