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TO EXPRESS THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGARDING THE DECISION BY THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION TO DECLINE TO APPLY FOR RACE TO THE TOP FUNDS, AND, FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE SCHOOLS AND CHILDREN OF THIS STATE, TO IMPLORE THE SUPERINTENDENT TO RECONSIDER HIS DECISION.
Whereas, the Race to the Top program was enacted in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 to develop valid assessments that support and inform instruction, provide accurate information about what students know and can do, and measure student achievement against standards designed to ensure that all students gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in college and the workplace; and
Whereas, Race to the Top funds are designed to allow states the opportunity to develop diverse, self-designed, data-driven programs to improve their educational system, monitor student performance, and develop other specialized, enhanced programs; and
Whereas, South Carolina is eligible to receive up to fifty million dollars in Race to the Top funds; and
Whereas, the state superintendent of education is the officer charged with the responsibility of applying for Race to the Top funds, and the current superintendent, Dr. Mick Zais, has declined to apply for these funds to improve the educational system in this State; and
Whereas, with fifty million dollars, this State could increase access to high-quality learning programs for low-income and at-risk children, create a transparent system to align early-care and educational programs, improve training and support for the early-learning workforce, and help parents make knowledgeable decisions about their children's care; and
Whereas, the superintendent of education's failure to apply for these monies will result in the loss of a valuable funding resource for vital and irreplaceable programs and staff. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, express their disappointment regarding the decision by the state superintendent of education to decline to apply for Race to the Top funds, and, for the betterment of the schools and children of this State, implore the superintendent to reconsider his decision.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to South Carolina State Superintendent of Education Mick Zais.
This web page was last updated on January 10, 2012 at 2:24 PM