# Race To The Top on The No Agenda Show

Race To The Top comes up in 4 chapters across 3 episodes of The No Agenda Show, from April 2011 to March 2014.

- **Chapters:** 4
- **Episodes:** 3
- **Discussed:** April 2011 – March 2014
- **Related topics:** [Bill Gates](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/bill-gates.md), [Arne Duncan](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/arne-duncan.md), [Barack Obama](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/barack-obama.md), [Common Core](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/common-core.md), [Department Of Education](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/department-of-education.md), [Education Reform](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/education-reform.md), [Mark Zuckerberg](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/mark-zuckerberg.md), [Medicare](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/medicare.md), [Michael Dell](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/michael-dell.md), [Non-profits](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/non-profits.md)

## Chapters 1–4 of 4

### Arne Duncan and Common Core Education Standards

- **Episode:** [604: Dead Jellyfish](https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/604-dead-jellyfish.md)
- **Published:** 2014-03-30
- **Time:** 2:26:44–2:33:47
- **Transcript:** https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/604-dead-jellyfish/chapter/arne-duncan-and-common-core-education-standards.md

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has utilized "Race to the Top" grants to incentivize states to adopt Common Core standards. Critics argue that while the department claims not to control curriculum, the $350 million funded for national testing effectively dictates what is taught in classrooms. The hosts describe this as a centrally controlled "national brainwashing system" funded by private foundations like the Gates Foundation.

Keywords: [arne duncan](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/arne-duncan.md), [common core](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/common-core.md), [race to the top](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/race-to-the-top.md), [department of education](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/department-of-education.md), [bill gates](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/bill-gates.md)

### Bill Gates, Corporate Interests, and Non-Profit Chains

- **Episode:** [595: Ottomania](https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/595-ottomania.md)
- **Published:** 2014-02-27
- **Time:** 2:33:32–2:36:24
- **Transcript:** https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/595-ottomania/chapter/bill-gates-corporate-interests-and-non-profit-chains.md

The implementation of Common Core through "Race to the Top" grants is linked to the financial interests of Bill Gates and Michael Dell, whose companies provide the necessary hardware and software. The "daisy chain" of non-profits, such as Educate Texas, is criticized for creating a self-sustaining loop of corporate-driven education policy that bypasses traditional democratic oversight.

Keywords: [bill gates](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/bill-gates.md), [michael dell](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/michael-dell.md), [race to the top](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/race-to-the-top.md), [non-profits](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/non-profits.md), educate texas

### Medicare Bonuses, Hospital Hand Washing Protocols

- **Episode:** [297: Obama's Clutch Car](https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/297-obama-s-clutch-car.md)
- **Published:** 2011-04-21
- **Time:** 13:26–14:21
- **Transcript:** https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/297-obama-s-clutch-car/chapter/medicare-bonuses-hospital-hand-washing-protocols.md

President Barack Obama suggested that Medicare should provide financial bonuses to hospitals that successfully reduce infection rates through simple protocols like employee hand washing. This incentive-based approach is compared to the "Race to the Top" education initiative. Skeptics questioned the efficacy of paying for basic hygiene and the potential for hospitals to falsify compliance forms for reimbursement.

Keywords: [medicare](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/medicare.md), hospital infections, hand washing, [race to the top](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/race-to-the-top.md), healthcare incentives

### Mark Zuckerberg, Education Question Scripting

- **Episode:** [297: Obama's Clutch Car](https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/297-obama-s-clutch-car.md)
- **Published:** 2011-04-21
- **Time:** 55:30–56:56
- **Transcript:** https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/297-obama-s-clutch-car/chapter/mark-zuckerberg-education-question-scripting.md

During the Facebook town hall, Mark Zuckerberg interrupted President Obama to praise the administration's "Race to the Top" education initiative. The exchange was criticized as being highly scripted and overly complimentary. The questions from the audience and the web were characterized as "lame" and designed to avoid challenging the President.

Keywords: [mark zuckerberg](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/mark-zuckerberg.md), [barack obama](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/barack-obama.md), [race to the top](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/race-to-the-top.md), [education reform](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/education-reform.md), [town hall](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/town-hall.md)

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