Race to the Top Competition Has Begun: First Round of Applications Due in January

The U.S. Department of Education has released the final application for the highly competitive Race to the Top Fund. The four billion dollar fund will be awarded in grants to states that have shown success in raising student achievement and have the most solid plans to accelerate their educational reforms in the future. The intent is for these states to offer models of best practices for the rest of the nation to follow.

Race to the Top Funds will be awarded in two phases. For states ready to apply now, applications are due January 19, 2010, and awards will be announced in April. Information conference calls will take place in November and December; technical assistance workshops are scheduled for December 3, in Denver, Colorado, and December 10, in Washington, D.C. Phase 2 applications are due June 1, 2010, with winners to be announced in September. Applicants that are not awarded grants in the first round may reapply in Phase 2.

To be considered, states must show that they have developed comprehensive and coherent plans built around the four areas of reform in the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA):

• Adopting standards and assessments that prepare students to succeed in college and the workplace and to compete in the global economy
• Building data systems that measure student growth and success, and inform teachers and principals about how they can improve instruction
• Recruiting, developing, rewarding, and retaining effective teachers and principals, especially where they are needed most
• Turning around our lowest-achieving schools

Visit ED.gov's Race to the Top Fund Web site to learn more and to download application forms. Learn more about ARRA as it applies to schools and districts in Northwest states at the Northwest Education Recovery Clearinghouse.