Aside from assuring the good health and safety of our people, there is nothing that can brighten the future of all of us more than good educational achievement by our young people. So it is good news that Tennessee has been selected to receive half a billion dollars from the federal “Race to the Top” program for Tennesseans’ educational progress.
It has been calculated the award will amount to about $540 per pupil. Fine! But it should be realized that while financial support for our students and our schools is very important, money alone is not the key to educational success.
We need highly motivated young people, strongly supported by their parents and a variety of community institutions, plus able and dedicated teachers, to take full advantage of the opportunities that are offered.
We spend a great deal of our tax money for schools. It is good news that much more money will be available for Tennessee education as a result of the grant from the Race to the Top program. Now the challenge will be to take fullest advantage of the added aid and encouragement.
The welcome financial award does not mean that Tennessee has achieved so much. It means there is a need for more progress, and that Tennessee education leaders have proposed ways to increase student achievement.
We look forward optimistically to great progress for our Tennessee students.