Hamilton County Schools officials already are plotting how the district might spend its share of federal Race to the Top money after Tennessee was announced as a finalist Thursday.
Hamilton County Superintendent Jim Scales said he would like the system to look at a new assessment model for teachers, as well as programs aimed at recruiting and training quality educators.
“We were pretty optimistic in our hope that Tennessee would be a finalist in the first round,” he said. “This gives us plenty of reason to start planning for if Tennessee is one of the winners.”
Along with Georgia, Tennessee was one of 15 states and the District of Columbia that scored more than 400 points on the 500-point application. A handful of winning states – officials would say only say the number will be in the single digits – will be announced as winners in April.
“These applicants show what is possible when adults come together to do the right thing for children,” U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan told reporters Thursday. “Each one has a shot at winning, but most will go home as finalists.”