Part II: A Converging Educational Landscape

School buildings nationwide have been on the receiving end of many initiatives targeting improved student achievement and teaching practices in the classroom. One of the most popular, the Race to the Top program sponsored and funded by the U.S. Department of Education, is one initiative that provides competitive funding to states that attempt to leverage existing resources with additional financial backing toward advancing reforms in four core areas: “(1) Adopting standards and assessments that prepare students to succeed in college and the workplace and to compete in the global economy; (2) Building data systems that measure student growth and success, and inform teachers and principals about how they can improve instruction; (3) Recruiting, developing, rewarding, and retaining ...