Georgia is a $400 million winner in the "Race to the Top" for federal money for schools, one of nine states chosen in the latest round for creating "ambitious yet achievable plans for implementing coherent, compelling, and comprehensive education reform."

That's from the U.S. Department of Education, which describes the $4.35 billion "Race" program as "an unprecedented federal investment in reform."

Gov. Sonny Perdue, who went all-out for the money, said, "This is truly a unique opportunity to implement a Georgia-created plan that will accelerate our work in improving student achievement."

State school Superintendent Brad Bryant said, "Going for Race to the Top has never been about just the money, but more about further development of our foundation to drive increased student achievement."

Unlike the "stimulus" money that kept Georgia schools from falling into an even deeper financial hole the last couple of years, the "Race" money supposedly cannot be spent on reducing class sizes, hiring teachers or adding days to the school year - what many people might call the basics.

Neither will the new money come in one lump but "will be distributed over time as the grantees meet established benchmarks," DOE says. And recipient states are supposed to lead "in comprehensive, coherent, statewide education reform across four key areas."

Take a look at those areas, per the DOE:

1. "Adopting standards and assessments that prepare students to succeed in college and the workplace;

2. "Building data systems that measure student growth and success, and inform teachers and principals how to improve instruction;

3. "Recruiting, developing, rewarding, and retaining effective teachers and principals, especially where they are needed most; and

4. "Turning around their lowest-performing schools."

You probably thought Georgia already was doing all those things, based on what's been said by state school officials in recent years. But one of the new programs to be funded by the "Race" money, according to news reports, is a merit-pay pilot program for teachers. If that has a familiar ring, it's another form of the teacher-pay-for-student-performance bill Perdue tried his hardest to push or sneak through the last General Assembly session but failed. It was all about getting the federal grant.

As was pointed out here, if teachers are going to be paid based on performance of their students, then the same rule should be applied across the board to state and local officials and legislators. If it's good for teachers, it's got to be good for everybody else.

Anyway, only 26 school districts signed on for the "Race," meaning that they are supposed to get 50 percent of the $400 million "to meaningfully enact the Race to the Top reforms," according to the governor's news release.

Cobb and Marietta are out of the race. Cobb didn't apply and Marietta wasn't eligible, not being "low performing."

Will "Race to the Top" make a significant difference in Georgia's low-performing schools and overall academic achievement? Who knows? But one thing's for sure: it will bring more federal control.

dmckee9613@aol.com