The State Legislature has emitted a grand “yes” to NJ’s Race To The Top application for the second round. Except for the part about linking teacher compensation to student achievement, the signature part of our proposal. The Star-Ledger reports that this little omission will allow NJEA’s leadership to instruct its local presidents that it’s hunky-dory to sign on, which will improve our chances of winning some federal cash. Except for the part where U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan told states,

Some have misread our intent in designing RTTT believing that watered-down reforms with broad buy-in is the best strategy. Nothing could be further from the truth; only the best and boldest plans will win.