Race to the Top Coalition Statement
July 29, 2010

The Race to the Top Coalition applauds today's announcement that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is one of the finalists in Phase 2 of the US Department of Education's Race to the Top competition and commits to keeping education reform efforts at the forefront of the state's agenda.
 
"We are buoyed by this news  --  which not only brings us one step closer to receiving up to $250 million for our schools and our students when the final awards are made later this summer  --  but also reinforces the significant steps that the Commonwealth has taken over the last year to make sure that all of our state's children have access to an excellent education no matter where they go to school," said Paul S. Grogan, president and CEO of the Boston Foundation, the convener of the Race to the Top Coalition.  "The collaborative work that went into passage of last January's ed reform legislation and the state's Race to the Top applications provides a significant and necessary platform of stakeholders who will be needed to make sure these education goals are realized in the months and years ahead.  We look forward to continuing to be at the table to insist that all of our children will be able to succeed in their own race to the top."
 
Another leader of the Coalition, Christopher R. Anderson, president of the Massachusetts High technology Council and former chairman of the state board of education,  said, " The anticipated short-term funds will certainly help plug gaps in school budgets, but the long-term reforms, like expanding charter schools and turning around failing schools, will help Massachusetts maintain its global education leadership position."
 
The Race to the Top Coalition is an alliance of 16 business, civic, community and education leaders convened by the Boston Foundation to support education innovation, secure new and significant ed reform legislation in the Commonwealth and secure the state's chare of $4.3 billion in federal Race to the Top education stimulus funding. Members of the Coalition include Black Leaders for Excellence in Education, The Boston Foundation, Bessie Tartt Wilson Initiative for Children Inc., Boston Leaders for Education, Boston Municipal Research Bureau, Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Leaders for Education, Massachusetts Charter Public School Association, Massachusetts High Technology Council, Mass Insight, Metrowest Chamber of Commerce, metro South Chamber of Commerce,  Progressive Business Leaders Network, Stand for Children and Strategic Grant Partners.