U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, right, with Senators Jack Reed, center, and Sheldon Whitehouse. The Providence Journal / Frieda Squires

NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. — U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan made a rare visit to Rhode Island Monday morning, his first as the federal education chief, and indicated he is well aware of school-reform efforts under way in the state, changes that could help it win millions of dollars in competitive federal grants.

“Rhode Island is very much on my radar,” Duncan said as he was leaving Hamilton Elementary School, where he met with a group of school support staff. “We want to invest in states that are making significant changes to improve student performance. Rhode Island is a relatively small state and has a chance to do some exciting things.”

The U.S. Department of Education is dangling tantalizing pots of gold to spur states to make dramatic improvements. States can compete for a portion of the $4.35-billion Race to the Top Fund, grants that reward states for embracing reforms such as welcoming charter schools, removing ineffective teachers, adopting tougher academic standards and improving data collection on student performance.

The federal department is also encouraging school districts to compete for $650 million in school-improvement grants.

Rhode Island education officials have jumped at the chance to compete for the federal funds, and have already endorsed several changes that strengthen the state’s chances.

Education Commissioner Deborah A. Gist, who took over July 1, is advancing several revisions initiated by her predecessor, Peter McWalters, and adding plenty of her own, including raising the bar on who becomes a teacher, ending teacher assignments based on seniority and requiring all educators to be evaluated yearly.

In recent years, the state’s Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education has ended a moratorium on new charters and opened three new ones; created an alternative teacher-certification process; and established a novel testing system with New Hampshire and Vermont.

Duncan said he is aware of those changes, and encouraged the state to aggressively compete for federal funds. The first round of Race to the Top awards is scheduled for March 2010. States can compete for a second round later that year.

Duncan met for an hour with about 15 North Kingstown support staff who help keep the schools running — custodians, cafeteria workers, clerks, teaching assistants and bus drivers, collectively known as education support professionals.

Also attending were U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse plus U.S. Rep. James R. Langevin. Reed said he knows firsthand how important support staff are, not just to school operations, but because of the relationships many of them forge with students looking for adult role models.

“My dad was a custodian in Cranston,” Reed told the audience of about 75 educators and union officials. “But he was many things. A traffic control officer ... a counselor … A school is not just a facility. It’s a community of people dedicated to the children in the school.”

Duncan is conducting a national listening tour and has visited about 30 states. Rhode Island is the only place he has focused exclusively on the concerns of support staff.

North Kingstown’s staff told Duncan they are worried about the lack of funds dedicated to professional development and training that would help them become more highly qualified. Cafeteria workers said they are worried about the nutritional value and quality of food they served students.

There are more than 2,250 support staff in Rhode Island schools. Several told Duncan they are an often overlooked part of the education system.

“We appreciate you including us in the conversation about education reform,” said Sandie Blankenship, president of the union that represents North Kingstown’s education support professionals. “This is an historic event for us.”

Gist listened to the conversation and said she planned to have lunch with Duncan later in the day. She said she is hopeful the state will succeed in its efforts to secure some of the federal money to make improvements.

“I am absolutely confident that we are ready for these changes,” Gist said. “That’s why we are working tirelessly to make sure Rhode Island has the best educational system in the country.”

jjordan@projo.com