DeLauro Responds as Connecticut is Left Out of Education Funding Program

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) responded to the announcement today that Connecticut is not a finalist in the Obama Administration's controversial Race to the Top education grant program: "While I applaud the President's initiative in working to better our schools, I am deeply concerned that the Race to the Top program will leave many states at a severe disadvantage. After jumping through bureaucratic hoops and even passing a new state law, Connecticut has not been selected as a finalist for this controversial program, which will pit states against other states, encouraging an ultimately destructive competition that will drain funding and resources from under-performing states and leave our neediest students, those who are from low-income families or minorities, further behind. Schools that encounter difficulties will be punished instead of aided, and will be forced to implement reforms without resources.

"While any education funding is certainly welcome as we all continue to weather this difficult economy, redistributing critical funding and shortchanging the schools that need the most help is not the way to improve our nation's struggling school system. As a very impressive coalition put it last week, "By emphasizing competitive incentives in this economic climate, the majority of low-income and minority students will be left behind and, as a result, the United States will be left behind as a global leader." The Race to the Top program is simply the wrong approach at the wrong time, and will become another burden that our already struggling school districts must bear."