Maryland and Virginia are working to earn millions in federal dollars in the push to create national educational standards.
The money comes from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act via a $4 billion pool for competitive grants. Though details on how to get the money have not been finalized, states with winning ideas that can be replicated, such as improving teacher quality, could earn a slice.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan recently took the first step toward providing specifics, promising a cut of $350 million for states that could design tests aligned with the pending national standards.
Test design is an arena in which both Maryland and Virginia have a strong history.
Virginia’s “standards of learning” and their accompanying tests have been in place since the mid-1990s and have earned accolades from both sides of the political spectrum, from the American Federation of Teachers to the conservative-leaning Fordham Institute.
“If there’s a national discussion about what quality academic standards should look like, then Virginia is going to be a part of that. We have a lot to present,” said state schools spokesman Charles Pyle. He added that though states ultimately will have the choice to adopt national standards, those that do so will be viewed favorably by federal officials.
In Maryland, officials tout the success of their standards and tests by citing reports, such as one by Newsweek magazine this month, placing the state at the top nationwide for overall educational quality.
Educators say it’s still too early to determine the odds of getting the money, but they’re hopeful. Regionwide, schools chiefs from Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and the District have held initial conversations on how they could collaborate to win funds.
“Everyone has decided to think through this, but put things on hold until we get more specifications on the grant,” said Ronald Peiffer, Maryland’s deputy superintendent for academic policy. “But we’re very interested.”
Attaching money to adopting national standards represents a new step in the long-struggling movement, and has been made possible because of stimulus funds. A failed 1997 effort backed by then-President Bill Clinton saw only seven states pledging support, including Maryland.
This year, 46 states, including Maryland, Virginia and D.C., have said they would move forward with the creation of national standards.
