“Hope Street Group applauds the President’s focus on education and the proposed expansion of Race to the Top’s reforms to all 50 states through the renewal of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.  Race to the Top has already unleashed fundamental state education reforms across the country.  We are especially pleased by the ways Race to the Top is raising the bar for teacher effectiveness, including promoting student achievement as the core of teacher evaluation systems.  We encourage the Administration to continue its embrace of education reform policies that span the political spectrum and focus first and foremost on children.  As a fiercely bipartisan organization, Hope Street Group believes it is important to include diverse perspectives and expertise to get to real solutions — and we stand ready to help any way we can.”