U-46 among districts hoping for federal grant
Elgin Area School District U-46 and several other suburban districts Monday officially opted into the state's bid for millions in federal education funds.
U-46 school board members, Superintendent Jose Torres and teachers union leaders signed a memorandum of understanding which promises to implement various initiatives vaguely spelled out in the state's Race to the Top proposal.
Those initiatives, according to the memorandum, include adopting revised learning standards; using data systems to support instructions; tying teacher evaluations to student achievement and turning around the lowest performing schools.
Part of the federal stimulus package, Race to the Top will award $4.35 billion to states that plan to make educational reforms and improve student achievement. Illinois intends to apply for more than $500 million, according to state Superintendent Christopher Koch's Dec. 18 letter to district superintendents.
If Illinois nets the funds, 50 percent would be allocated to districts that have signed memorandums, district attorney Pat Broncato told the board.
Money would be distributed to districts based on numbers of low-income students and most heavily to schools that have been the lowest performing on standardized tests in recent years.
Among the 181 designated "lowest performing" schools are Elgin, Larkin and Streamwood high schools in U-46, as well as Dundee-Crown High School in Carpentersville and Round Lake High School. In addition to the initiatives spelled out in the district's memorandum, those schools must either participate in a "Partnership Zone" program that promotes school turnaround or agree to adopt one of four schoolwide reform models. If Illinois nets the federal money, districts have 90 days to "opt out" of participating in the program.
"Why consider this? This is a large grant and U-46 is revenue-challenged," Elgin Teachers' Association President Tim Davis told the board.
By signing the memorandum, the ETA and the district have agreed to renegotiate the teachers' contract. Teachers' current contract expires in December.
Broncato told the board that he had no estimate of the funds U-46 could receive.
Along with U-46, Glenbard Township High School District 87 and Indian Prairie Unit District 204 approved memorandums of understanding for the program Monday.
District 204, which includes portions of Naperville, Aurora, Plainfield and Bolingbrook, agreed to "take a free look" at the program. President Curt Bradshaw said the recently-added 90-day opt-out period was key to the district signing on.
Not all districts were as eager to climb on board. Across the country, teachers unions have balked at signing memorandums, calling the program too vague and flawed. Naperville Unit District 203 on Saturday voted 6-0 to reject the memorandum. Superintendent Mark Mitrovich said there were still too many unanswered questions surrounding the program, and districts with higher percentages of low-income students would be ahead in line for the money.
Monday was the deadline for districts to sign the application. The state's application is due Jan. 19, and the first round of awards will be announced in April.
• Staff writers Melissa Jenco, Marco Santana and Justin Kmitch contributed to this report.