| The U.S. Department of Education's 2010 fiscal year | | | | and misdeeds in the educational workplace? |
| budget of $47.6 billion includes an allocation of $517 | | | | When an inspired teacher or administrator makes the |
| million dedicated to the Teacher Incentive Fund which | | | | difference in average yearly attainment a reward is |
| rewards principals, teachers, and other school | | | | more than appropriate. It is fully earned for having |
| personnel who raise student achievement, close | | | | the tools to enable the struggling student to |
| achievement gaps and work hard to staff schools. | | | | complete a toolkit that is in ill repair. |
| School districts across the country will be competing | | | | Based on the state funding tables issued by the U.S. |
| for the billions of dollars on the line. They will | | | | Department of Education, Colorado is expected to |
| showcase their great schools, exemplary teachers | | | | receive $33,845,209 in Recovery Act funding for |
| and innovative ideas. There's no doubt that the | | | | schools identified for improvement, corrective action |
| stimulus money will be a boon for school reform. For | | | | and restructuring under Title I. This money is |
| years, school districts have shown that they have | | | | expected to come into play this fall. |
| innovative ideas, but without proper funding those | | | | If past history is any indicator the incentive program |
| ideas never come to fruition. | | | | will be a success. Programs such as the Absence |
| Innovation and change should be energized with both | | | | Addiction Approach recognized by the National |
| an incentive and reward to replenish resources of | | | | Interagency Drug Institute and the U.S. Department |
| ingenuity, commitment, and creativity. Only in public | | | | of Education helped an academically impaired high |
| education is going the extra mile a donation expected | | | | school move from low attendance and floundering |
| of the dedicated few. | | | | graduation rates to turn around status celebrated by |
| It is empowering to be recognized for turning gang | | | | its principal winning recognition as Outstanding |
| infested schools from the strong hold of the socially | | | | Individual In School and feted by the state's |
| impaired to havens where students can remediate | | | | governor. This turn around scenario was incentivized |
| themselves to academic achievement. Yes, placards | | | | by outside funding. This shows what dynamic effects |
| and pats on the back feel good; but, they don't buy | | | | special funding can have. |
| anything. Why are educators the only missionaries | | | | The rewards reaped from the Teacher Incentive |
| who trek the roadways of the under-achievers | | | | Fund will provide a tremendous opportunity for |
| --prodding them to the higher places with maybe a | | | | improving schools with hard work and innovation. The |
| brief notation in the annual assessment of their deeds | | | | real winners though, will be the children. |