Biden marks Race to the Top anniversary

WILMINGTON, Del., March 21 (UPI) -- The "Race to the Top" competition for federal money to help state education systems is a tremendous investment, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said Monday.

"For less than 1 percent of what America spends on education each year, we were able to help jump-start some of the farthest reaching education reforms in history," Biden said during a visit to Howard High School in Wilmington, Del., to observe the first anniversary of Race to the Top awards in Delaware. "All across the country, Race to the Top is inspiring the same kind of change we're seeing here in Delaware."

Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Delaware's application promised to examine practices across the state and enjoyed the full backing of the state's teachers union.

"Today, we are here to celebrate the fact that Delaware has made good on its promise and is beginning to implement changes that are transforming the state of education for children throughout the state," Duncan said.

Howard High School is one of four schools participating in a Partnership Zone that gives low-performing schools help to turn around, including instituting longer school days, increased instructional time, more flexibility in staffing decisions and a greater role for teachers in implementing reforms, the vice president's office said.

When speaking with reporters at the event, Biden said he hoped the school's turnaround plan would help students because "part of it is believing in them and setting the bar high."

The Race to the Top state competition is designed to reward leaders of statewide education reform in:

-- Adopting student-focused standards and assessments.

-- Building data systems that measure student success, and alert faculty and principles about how to improve instruction.

-- Recruiting, developing, rewarding and retaining effective teachers and principals.

-- Turning around lowest-performing schools.