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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Washington’s “Race to the Top” Application Fails
Litzow Disappointed by Opponent’s Lackluster Effort
BELLEVUE, WA-- Steve Litzow, Mercer Island City Council member and candidate for State Senate, reacted earlier today to news that Washington State has failed to qualify as a finalist in the federal “Race To the Top” education funding competition. “Given our State’s current budget woes, public schools across our State are hurting,” said Litzow. “I am very disappointed that Washington will not qualify for help from the federal government during these tough economic times.”
The federal government allowed certain States to advance as finalists because of their commitments to reforming education. According to the Seattle Times, “The fact that Washington wasn't a finalist didn't come as a surprise.” After a Legislative Session marred by gridlock within its own party, the majority failed to enact meaningful improvements to our public schools system.
Litzow also pointed to his opponent’s role in the failed application: “My opponent, Senator Gordon, has bragged extensively about his role in writing our State’s application to the Obama Administration—an application which was clearly underwhelming and ill-prepared for the competition. Now, school districts across our State must struggle to get by while lawmakers continually fail to fix our education system. This election offers a choice between the kind of failed leadership that eliminated us from the Race to the Top competition and a new, fresh kind of leadership that says fund education first. My opponent believes in the former, while I represent the latter.”
As a father of four with children currently enrolled in Mercer Island public schools, Steve cares deeply about fixing Washington’s education system. He believes in fully funding education as our State’s number one budget priority and rewarding quality teachers. That’s why Stand for Children Washington, an education advocacy group dedicated to improving our education system, has endorsed Steve as an “Education Champion.” Steve will bring needed accountability to the State Senate and represent the interests of 41st District residents.
