Updates on the Race: 11-19-2009

CALIFORNIA: December vote on Race to the Top bills

FLORIDA: State may ask for a quarter of $4 billion RttT pot of funds

IDAHO: Governor Otter praises RttT plans

MASSACHUSETTS: Lawmakers stiff Governor on RttT bills

MISSOURI: State may focus on RttT, Round 2

Axe-Wielding Policymakers

In tight fiscal times such as these, policymakers can choose to make needed cuts with a scalpel or an axe. The Missouri House apparently has decided to chop away at certain programs indiscriminately.

According to this article from the Southeast Missourian, in the version of the state budget passed by the House, funding (currently $15 million) for teacher professional development and mentoring would not just be trimmed -- but completely ELIMINATED.

Want to know more about why teacher development is important? Check out these resources:

• Edutopia
• National Staff Development Council
• New Teacher Center
• WestEd