WNYC report
Beth Fertig at WNYC reports on this week’s conference on replicating the Harlem Children’s Zone model. In an accompanying blog post, she quotes Arne Duncan, the secretary of education, on whether communities applying for Promise Neighborhood grants need to be “shovel-ready” to have a shot at federal support:
These are scarce resources and there’s tremendous interest out there. And I think this work has to continue whether schools and neighborhoods and communities get funded or not. But we want to invest in those places that have the capacity to deliver dramatically better results for children. So this is not just about a good idea, it’s not just about good will or good intentions. We want to put lots of dollars, millions and millions of dollars behind those places that have the capacity, the political will, the courage and the plan to dramatically improve student outcomes.