It appears there are about 10-15 states rounding the last lap in the Race to the Top marathon. It’s going to be a nail-biter. Louisiana and Florida seem to be in the lead. Delaware, Rhode Island, Tennessee and D.C. are sprinting to the wire. Texas, being Texas, and its Republican governor, have given the finger to the Dems in D.C. and decided to bail out.

I’m still guessing that Colorado has roughly a 50% chance of nailing a grant, but everything depends on the final sprint. I and most of the other wonks I talk to think it’s going to come down to which states are serious about teacher quality. New York, apparently realizing that Arne Duncan is not backing down, is now trying to make legislative changes before 4:30 p.m. EST, January 19 — the application deadline.

I’m still cheering for the Centennial State, but I do worry about our chances unless we address teacher tenure, evaluation and dismissal. It’s up to State Sen. Mike Johnston and our legislature to make the final push.

Popularity: 16% [?]

The plight of newspapers is well known; how information about important topics like school board races is disseminated and reviewed by voters is both incredibly important and in real flux. How does the public – especially a younger demographic less likely to read newspapers — get in-depth information from candidates, especially on tough questions?

EdNews — with a staff whose news credentials are outstanding — sent all candidates for the Denver school board elections a questionnaire with some very pointed questions. How different candidates responded to this opportunity to reflect, consider, and publicly share their unedited views is a pretty good filter to judge how they might approach the office.

So, full story link and a quick summary follows – I encourage everyone to read the specific replies:

At-Large Seat: Candidates Christopher Scott and Mary Seawell both responded to the questionnaire.  There are some sharp and important differences here in both substance and approach, and both are worth reading: (see: Scott response, and Seawell response). Candidate Fard did not respond.

District 2: Candidate Ismael Garcia responded by answering the questions (Garcia response). Candidate Andrea Merida replied with a canned statement of little relevance to the questions (Merida’s statement). (more…)

Popularity: 4% [?]

Much has been made of the strange case of Marie Morrow, who has been suspended and faces expulsion from Cherry Creek shools for having some mock rifles in her car. The usual suspects are beating up on the usual suspects. The school district is being pilloried for overreacting to an honest mistake by a good kid.

But think about if or a moment. The legislature put a “zero-tolerance” law on the books post-Columbine that arguably gives school districts little or no discretion in such circumstances. So perhaps the problem lies with the legislature, not the district. I often think about the passage in Jerry Wartgow’s book where eager legislators come to him, as DPS superintendent, and ask him what bills they might carry for him. His response: the best thing you can do for DPS is pass no new education legislation this session.

In the current reality, such a common-sense suggestion is unthinkable. Legislators have to run for reelection every two or four years. To make a case to the electorate, they need to show that they have sponsored or carried legislation. Education is a popular target for both the left and right.

And so, my friends, we end up with a lot of foolishness, some of it driven by political ambition, regardless of whether it moves education in the right direction.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Although legislative leaders haven’t formally announced committee lineups for the 2009 session, some names are coming out.

Word is the Senate Education Committee  will include Democrats Bob Bacon of Fort Collins (a returnee, likely the chair), Chris Romer of Denver (vice chair), Evie Hudak of Arvada, Rollie Heath of Boulder and Peter Groff of Denver.

Hudak, now a State Board of Education member, and Heath, an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for governor years ago, are newbies. Groff, of course, is Senate president and a leading advocate of education reform, including his Innovation Schools Act of 2008.

Republicans being mentioned are Nancy Spence of Centennial, a member the last two years with a high interest in education issues, and incoming Sen. Keith King of Colorado Springs, a former state rep, CCHE member, school board member and charter school president. It’s uncertain whether Josh Penry of Fruita, recently chosen as minority leader, or Mike Kopp of Littleton, new GOP caucus chair, will return to the panel.

The lineup’s a little less clear for House Ed, but one observer expects “most of the same Democrats” to return. The lineup last year was Mike Merrifield of Manitou Springs (chair), Debbie Benefield of Arvada, Nancy Todd of Aurora, Andy Kerr of Lakewood, Cherylin Peniston of Westminster, Judy Solano of Brighton (vice chair), Karen Middleton of Aurora and Christine Scanlan of Dillon.

Republican Reps. Cory Gardner of Yuma, Ken Summers of Lakewood and Tom Massey of Poncha Springs may make returns.

Because of the overall partisan shifts in the two Houses, Republicans apparently will lose one seat on Senate Ed but gain one on House Ed.

Popularity: 1% [?]