Gov. Sonny Perdue’s failure to secure teacher support cost the state $462 million in Race to the Top funding, officials with two of Georgia’s largest professional educators groups contend.
“Obviously the lack of buy-in from organizations and other school systems didn’t help,” Georgia Association of Educators President Jeff Hubbard said.
Taking the same approach in the competition’s second round will spell another defeat, he said.
“I think he’s blowing a huge opportunity,” Mr. Hubbard said. “But that seems to be his legacy; blowing education to smithereens.”
But Gov. Perdue’s spokesman, Bert Brantley, said Georgia’s “loss” is a matter of perspective and accusations of a “lack of buy-in” are just political rhetoric.