California will have some impressive numbers to show the feds, if most of the districts that have expressed interest in the federal Race to the Top competition follow through this week and sign the dotted line to participate in the state’s as yet unfinished application.

Nine of the state’s 10 largest school districts – every one but San Diego Unified — and 23 of the top 30 districts sent in letters of intent to join the program. In total, 798 of the approximately 1,800 school districts, county offices of education and charter schools showed interest. They educate 3.8 million of the state’s 6.25 million public school students – 61 percent.Not bad numbers, especially considering that the state provided the wording of the memorandum of understanding to commit to the program only a few weeks ago.

With those MOUs due back on Friday, that leaves four days for school boards to meet and vote. The state must submit its application by Jan. 19.

The MOUs contain space for the signatures of each district’s superintendent,  president of the school board and president of the local teachers’ union. The big question remains how many union locals will agree to sign on as well – and commit to reworking their contract to include using data as a basis for evaluating and paying teachers — one of the commitments to participating in Race to the Top.

The MOUs assume that the Legislature will pass and the governor will sign requisite legislation for the state’s application. And, as of Monday, that still hadn’t been done, after the Assembly Education Committee delayed a vote on the compromise bill, SBX5-4.

That vote is now planned for this morning followed by a full Assembly vote. Late Monday, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass put out a press release stating that “both Houses are in agreement” on the as yet undisclosed final wording. As I reported yesterday, the basic enabling legislation will be in one bill and two parent empowerment reforms that have raised the hackles of the California Teachers Association and the California School Boards Association will be in the other.

Here’s the rub: Enactment of either apparently will be contingent on passage of both bills. So California will either end up with a powerful package or reforms, or, if the CTA scotches the deal, there will be none.

Bass’ assurances notwithstanding, the drama isn’t over yet.

By John Fensterwald on January 5th, 2010