EBR schools picked for ‘Race to Top’

• By WILL SENTELL
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Nov 6, 2009 - Page: 4B

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East Baton Rouge Parish School Superintendent John Dilworth said Thursday his district has tentatively picked schools that could land $2 million in federal aid if Louisiana is chosen in a federal contest.

“We are definitely interested,” Dilworth said.

“Money doesn’t solve all problems,” he said. “But it certainly could help things.”

The superintendent was one of roughly 100 educators who turned out for a three-hour information session on the state’s bid.

The competition is called “Race to the Top.”

Louisiana is considered one of the frontrunners.

In April federal officials plan to divide $4.4 billion to about a dozen states that they deem leaders in education innovation and reform.

State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek said up to 130 public schools that volunteer to make sweeping changes could land $500,000 each for four years to finance improvements.

The most troubled public schools, which are expected to make up the bulk of the list, could be required to change principals and teachers and might come under new management.

“We have identified some probable schools,” Dilworth said.

He declined to say which or how many of the district’s 88 schools are considered possibilities.

“It just depends on what kind of flexibility we have and what the guidelines will allow us to do,” he said.

The Louisiana School Boards Association has criticized the state draft, in part because of questions on how local school districts will finance improvements once the federal aid runs out.