Two weeks after the state was warned to make progress on Race to the Top education reforms or risk losing a $75 million federal grant, there are no formal talks under way aimed at ending an ongoing labor dispute with the teachers union.

The apparent lack of movement toward negotiations could be a significant hurdle in the state’s effort to convince federal education reviewers that it can deliver on Race to the Top pledges, especially those that need union approval.

Joan Husted, a longtime Hawaii State Teachers Association executive director who retired in 2007, said if the state and union don’t get back to the bargaining table, "I think they can certainly anticipate they’re going to lose part of the $75 million."

"You can’t do anything if you’re not talking to each other," she said. "I think the state has to make a move."

The U.S. Department of Education placed Hawaii’s Race grant on "high-risk status" Dec. 21, citing "unsatisfactory performance" and worries over whether Hawaii’s Race to the Top promises can be met, given a host of delays. In announcing the reprimand, the U.S. DOE told Hawaii that if progress wasn’t made, the state’s Race grant could be lost.

Hawaii is the only Race winner in such jeopardy.

A key point of concern for the federal government revolves around Hawaii’s labor dispute with teachers — now in its seventh month — which has stalled progress on a number of key initiatives, including reaching an agreement on revamped teacher evaluations.

Other initiatives in which progress has been slow include devising a performance-based compensation system, creating new tenure rules for teachers and making sure the lowest-performing schools receive some of the highest-rated teachers.

Donalyn Dela Cruz, spokeswoman for Gov. Neil Abercrombie, said though no negotiations with the union are going on, informal discussions with HSTA over Race to the Top issues continue.

She also pointed out that the governor has asked the Hawaii Labor Relations Board to speed up a prohibited-practices case filed by the teachers union.

The dispute stems from the state’s decision to impose a contract offer with wage reductions July 1, a move the union said violated members’ rights. The state said the action was needed to preserve jobs.

HSTA President Wil Okabe could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

But Okabe and the state have said they are open to negotiations and are serious about making progress on Race pledges.

U.S. DOE reviewers are tentatively scheduled to visit the islands the week of Jan. 23, during which they’ll look for "clear and compelling evidence that demonstrates that it (the state) has made substantial progress across its Race to the Top plan," according to a letter to the governor from the department.

Hawaii’s Race to the Top grant, one of 10 awarded by the U.S. DOE in 2010, is aimed at pushing forward sweeping education reforms in Hawaii.

Stephen Schatz, head of the state Department of Education’s Office of Strategic Reform, said this week that, "We believe we will be able to work with our union partners to do what’s best for Hawaii’s students."