Thanks to State School News Service for alerting us to a hearing here in Chicago on how Illinois should respond to the federal Race to the Top competition.

The Senate Education Committee will convene at 10:30 Thursday Oct. 1 in Room 16-503 in the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago.

This may be the only chance for Chicago-area supporters of public education to register concerns about the heavy reliance of RTTT on high-stakes testing, risky turnarounds (like the one done to Fenger) charter expansion, and other failed strategies of the Duncan administration. Changes in Illinois law to sweeten the state's chances to win RTTT funds could be made in the October veto session.

If you can't attend, this would be a good time to contact members of the Education Committee.

Here are the comments PURE filed with the Dept. of Education on RTTT.

Here are some related, thoughtful student and educator comments.