President Barack Obama's mission when he comes to Madison tomorrow: To celebrate the first anniversary of his presidential election with a talk about transforming education - and to dangle the carrot of billions in education dollars in front of state lawmakers like Wisconsin's who are considering reforms.

"It's the first anniversary of the president's election, and we think that's important, because in this past 12-month peroiod we have been able to meet and achieve various benchmarks consistent with the president's goals on education," Melody Barnes, director of the president's Domestic Policy Council, told reporters in a conference call from Washington, D.C. today. "When the president goes to Madison, Wis., tomorrow, he's going to talk about his education reform plan and he's going to highlight the importance of innovation and excellence in our public education system."

Barnes said that Obama will also disuss "the really encouraging steps that states and communities are taking to put in place reforms that are consistent with the 'Race to the Top'" - a competition among states for $4.35 billion in education stimulus dollars.

The visit by Obama and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan at Wright Middle School tomorrow comes as education reforms are speeding through the Wisconsin legislature with an eye towards qualifying for "Race to the Top" money.

Spearheaded by Gov. Jim Doyle and endorsed by state school Superintendent Tony Evers, several bills - including allowing state academic test results to be used among the factors in evaluating teachers and the creation a data system that would track students from preschool through postsecondary education - are scheduled to head to the state Assembly and Senate floors on Thursday, the last day of the current legislative session.

Another bill considered by the Assembly's education committee today would expand the state superintendent's power.

The legislation, if passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor, could better position the state to compete "Race to the Top" funds.

"The Race to the Top program will make states focus on what we can do for our students to reach the next level," Doyle said. "Even in the places where our classrooms are working well, we can do a lot better, and President Obama is committing the resources for states willing to lead the way."

Wisconsin lawmakers are crafting the bills even though federal officials have not disclosed specifics on how states can qualify for the money. Barnes said applications will be released in the next few weeks and awards will be made in January.

The legislative session is scheduled to end Thursday, which lends urgency to efforts to pass the legislation. U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, who will travel with Obama to Madison, has said that Wisconsin's current ban on tying student test scores to teacher evaluations would disqualify it for any "Race to the Top" money.

The bills before the Assembly's Education committee today:

AB 533: Would allow state-required tests to be considered as part of a teacher's performance evaluation.

AB 534: Would give the state superintendent of public instruction the power to direct a local school board to make reforms, such as implement a new curriculum or expand school hours.

AB 535: Would require that school boards consider national standards for charter schools when establishing or contracting for the establishment of a charter school.

AB 536: Would direct the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, the Technical College System Board, the Department of Public Instruction and the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities to create a system linking student data from preschool through postsecondary education.

AB 537: Would change the way the Milwaukee Public School district applies for grants to improve pupil academic achievement.

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