8/9/2019 Washing Tons Race to the Top Letter 201005

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May 4, 2010

Dear Superintendent:

We are writing to you to express our strong support for Washington’s Race to the Topapplication. As you know, your district has a critical role to play right now. We encourage you tosign your partnership agreement and return it to the state.

Our state is pushing hard to improve our schools and, just recently, Governor Chris Gregoiresigned into law major education reforms.

Right now we have a crucial opportunity to get the resources we need to make a difference in ourschools and for our students. Three weeks ago, Governor Gregoire kicked off an effort to uniteeducators across the state around Washington’s application for Race to the Top funding from thefederal government.

At stake is $250 million for education. The funds will play a critical role in improving ourschools and advancing the reform efforts we’ve already begun.

Race to the Top brings together our teachers, administrators, principals, school board membersand communities to collaborate on closing the achievement gap that leaves too many of ourminority and low income children from accomplishing all they can in school. In fact,Washington is one of the few states in which that gap is actually growing. We can and must do abetter job to ensure all students can succeed in school.

The federal funds will support new research-based tools for teacher development, to evaluateteachers and principals and to help our lowest performing schools find paths to success.

Race to the Top also supports meaningful innovation in our schools. Far too often, dedicated andcreative teachers and principals are stymied in their efforts to improve schools by lack of thenecessary ingredients to support change. And in too many parts of our state, schools are leftwithout the resources for robust math and science programs, up-to-date technology ormeaningful professional development for staff to meet the needs of all of our students. Race tothe Top funding would play a critical role in implementing these and other important changes,making them a reality in districts across our state.

Last month, the federal government announced the first two winners of Race to the Top funding:Delaware and Tennessee.

8/9/2019 Washing Tons Race to the Top Letter 201005

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 What distinguished those states from others that applied? Their educators, school and districtleaders, and Associations all worked together and supported statewide plans to improve publicschools for all students. They chose to make a difference.

The lesson was clear. To succeed, Washington must unite around school reform. That’s whywe’re working closely with the Governor on the state’s application.

In education, time does matter. Each year, more than one million children attend public school inour state. Every single one of these students deserves the best we can provide them.

Washington has 295 school districts and we need every one of them to examine how theirstudents would benefit. Participation is the heart and soul of the state’s Race to the Topapplication. Working together, teachers, principals, superintendents, support staff, school boardsand community members can move our state toward the goal of a quality education for everystudent.

Let’s show that we are united across the state for the benefit of all of our students. Please returnyour signed Partnership Agreement so we can submit the strongest possible Race to the Topapplication.

Sincerely,

 Monte Bridges, President, Washington Association of School Administrators

 Phil Brockman, President, Association of Washington School Principals

 Kevin Laverty, President, Washington State School Directors’ Association

 Mary Lindquist, President, Washington Education Association