Delaware and Tennessee were the only states to win Round One of the race to the Top (RTTT) competition, thanks to their bold and innovative education-reform plans and a keen focus on improving student outcomes. These two states, as well as the 14 others chosen as finalists in the competition, have blazed a path for the rest of the nation.
Although California’s size, diversity, and financial situation do set it apart, its uniqueness does not mean the state has nothing to learn from the promising reform plans submitted by other states.
This “Road Map for Round Two” of the RTTT competition analyzes why California lost, how other states did better, and what California can and should do differently to win in the second round. The clock is running down; the stakes are high. The state should swiftly move to take advantage of opportunities to get back in the game.