Saint Paul – The following is a statement from Governor Pawlenty’s Deputy Chief of Staff Brian McClung regarding Minnesota’s Race to the Top application. Minnesota did not make the first group of finalists announced today by U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan. The second round of applications will be due this June.

“It’s hard to race to the top with an anchor tied to your leg. For years the teachers union has fought against any meaningful education reforms. First they opposed charter schools and open enrollment and now they’re fighting tenure reform, alternative licensure, and meaningful performance pay for teachers. If Minnesota is to have any chance of success in round two of this competition, the legislature must adopt these types of reforms immediately.”

The Pawlenty Administration has proposed numerous education reforms over the past several years, including alternative licensure, tenure reform, tougher entrance requirements for admission into teacher preparation programs, and expanded performance pay for teachers. While some reforms have been enacted, such as the state’s Q Comp program in 2005, many have been defeated at the legislature at the insistence of the teachers union.