Grand Rapid Press (Michigan) August 3, 2010

HEADLINE: Editorial: Don't stop Race to the Top education reform

Doing the math: The House's teacher retirement incentive plan might save schools statewide more than $730 million in the state fiscal year starting Oct. 1. But the plan's money-saving power would evaporate and could cost more than $1 billion combined from 2012 through 2016, according to the nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency.

Late last year, the state Legislature enacted education reforms that will make Michigan schools better. The impetus for those changes was a shot at more federal money through President Barack Obama's "Race to the Top" program.

It should not have taken a Washington sweetener to enact the reforms, which are aimed at improving student achievement. They were the right thing to do for school children in Michigan. Now, the reforms should stay in place, even though last week Michigan lost in the second round of Race to the Top grants. The state was in line for $400 million of $4.35 billion of federal cash.

The U.S. Department of Education last week listed 18 states and the District of Columbia as finalists in the second round. As many as a dozen states are expected to be named winners in September. Delaware and Tennessee won the first round.

Despite the importance and usefulness of these reforms, the Michigan Education Association is sounding skeptical notes about keeping them in place. The MEA wants the Legislature to revisit the plans and consider repealing them, probably because the reforms give teachers greater scrutiny and more accountability. But repeal is exactly the wrong way to go.

Still, the MEA's misguided decision to throw cold water on the Race to the Top laws is no surprise. In fact, it's consistent with past efforts to block the changes. The MEA was partially responsible for killing the first application for federal funds. The lack of buy-in from the teachers union signaled to U.S. Department of Education officials that Michigan wasn't serious about restructuring schools. In the second round, the unions were united behind the reforms. Why Michigan lost in round two will be revealed this month sometime.

It's important to remember why the Obama administration is pushing states toward these changes in the first place. The reforms allow the state superintendent to effectively intervene in the lowest-achieving schools. The laws allow for the creation of new charter schools in some of the poorest parts of the state, and the closure of charter schools that aren't working.

Rigorous new evaluation systems for teachers and administrators based on student test score improvement will be put into place. The dropout age will rise from 16 to 18, keeping students in school longer. In addition, the reforms provide new routes to teacher certification.

Schools complain that these new rules may cost them more money. To the extent that is true, lawmakers ought to find sources of funding to help. But federal money or not, state leaders should not back away from these overdue changes to education in Michigan.