Race On to Get the Money (How about the Race to Capture the Student's Imagination, Creativity and Innovation?)

Rules on teachers, schools could change to snare aid

By DAWSON BELL

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER 

Determined not to leave up to $400 million in federal funds on the table, state lawmakers appear determined this week to resolve differences in House and Senate bills that mandate significant changes in public schools.

To qualify for the Race to the Top federal stimulus mon ey, Michigan would have to make changes to allow merit pay for teachers, lessen re­strictions on opening charter schools, plan for sanctions for underperforming schools and make it easier for people to be come teachers. Teachers unions and local school offi cials have fought the ideas in the past.

Rep. Tim Melton, D-Auburn Hills, said state and federal ini tiatives will produce “a sea change” in the way troubled schools operate and kids learn. “It’s a huge deal,” he said.

And it’s a lot of money for a state with big money prob lems. The Democrat-con trolled House and Republican controlled Senate have ap proved different versions of legislation that must be re solved before Gov. Jennifer Granholm can sign it.

Michigan’s Race to the Top application is due Jan. 19, with the first round of funding to be announced in April.