Changes to state’s Race plan approved

The U.S. Department of Education has approved a handful of new amendments to the state’s Race to the Top plan but cautioned it wants to see results when federal reviewers visit next month.

Hawaii’s $75 million federal Race to the Top grant was placed on "high-risk" status in December, and federal authorities are scheduled to come to Hawaii during the week of March 25 for a comprehensive review of the state’s accomplishments since then.

During the visit, "Hawaii must provide clear and compelling evidence that demonstrates it has made substantial progress across its Race to the Top plan," said Ann Whalen, U.S. DOE director of policy and program implementation, in a letter to the governor released this week.

HAWAII has struggled to fulfill key pledges under its Race grant, and has fallen behind in nearly every aspect of its reform plans. Of particular concern is an ongoing labor dispute with teachers and the lack of collective bargaining agreements on key Race initiatives.

The amendments approved last week allow the department to:

» Reallocate $1 million meant for a research partnership to fund a contract for developing a strategic communications and branding plan.

» Launch a virtual center for science teacher training and college and career counseling for students, rather than two physical centers in Waianae and Hawaii island. The virtual center will be ready by July 2013, rather than the original target date of July 2011.

» Shift $1.6 million for a research consortium to instead provide extended learning opportunities for students during the summer. The summer programs will target students at risk for failure.

» Use $3 million to help develop a revamped teacher evaluation system that takes into account student academic growth, rather than using that money for implementation.

The amendments will be added to the more than 30 the department has already received.

Hawaii was among 10 winners — nine states and the District of Columbia — to receive Race to the Top grants in August 2010.

With the four-year grant, Hawaii pledged to undergo what amounted to a redesign of the state’s public school system. Efforts are aimed at boosting student achievement, improving teacher effectiveness and turning around the lowest-performing schools.

Hawaii is the only Race recipient to be put on "high-risk" status.

As of Feb. 10 the state had spent about $4.4 million of its grant, according to the U.S. Department of Education.