Grant Contest to Aid High Schools Still Work in Progress

Race to Top-style plan pushed by Obama

Proponents of better aligning high school improvement, postsecondary education, and the workforce have high hopes for President Barack Obama's recent proposal to create a Race to the Top-style competitive-grant program specifically for secondary education.

But the plan, which still needs to be fleshed out by the administration, could face long odds in a Congress that's looking to cut spending. The president may also have a tough time winning over lawmakers and education advocates weary of his penchant for using competitive grants, rather than formula funding that goes out to all school districts, to advance his K-12 agenda.

Mr. Obama in his Feb. 12 State of the Union speech floated the idea of offering a new competitive-grant program for high school improvement that could help schools partner with businesses and postsecondary institutions. He has yet to put a price tag on the program or offer specifics, such as how large grants would be and for how many years. White House aides said such details would likely be released along with the president's budget plan...