Final rules for the Obama administration’s $4 billion Race to the Top competitive education grant program retain politically volatile elements, the New York Times reports.

These elements include an emphasis on charter schools, using standardized test scores in teacher evaluation and merit pay systems, and encouraging local districts to dismiss entire staffs of thousands of failing schools.

Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson

The competition will reward some states undertaking bold school improvement initiatives. States have until mid-January to prepare applications for a first round, competition, and until June for a second round. Officials in dozens of states are trying to position their school systems as winners.

After an outpouring of criticism greeted preliminary plans, the final rules were made more flexible.

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Filed under: K-12 Education News