Office of Elementary & Secondary Education: Race to the Top Grant for Education Reform and Student Achievement

The Race to the Top is a $4.35 billion competitive grant program designed to encourage and reward States that are creating the conditions for education innovation and reform and implementing ambitious plans in four core education reform areas:• Adopting internationally-benchmarked standards and assessments that prepare students for success in college and the workplace; • Recruiting, developing, retaining, and rewarding effective teachers and principals; • Building data systems that measure student success and inform teachers and principals how they can improve their practices; and • Turning around lowest-performing schoolsThe overarching goals are to:• Drive substantial gains in student achievement• Improve high school graduation rates and prepare students for success in college and careers• Close achievement gapsThe Department plans to make Race to the Top grants in two phases. States that are ready to apply may do so in Phase 1, which will open in late 2009. States that need more time may apply in Phase 2, which will open in spring 2010. States that apply in Phase 1 but are not awarded grants may reapply for funding in Phase 2, together with States that are applying for the first time in Phase 2. Phase 1 grantees may not apply for additional funding in Phase 2. We will announce specific deadlines for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 in subsequent notice(s) inviting applications for funds under this program.

The Race to the Top is a $4.35 billion competitive grant program designed to encourage and reward States that are creating the conditions for education innovation and reform and implementing ambitious plans in four core education reform areas:• Adopting internationally-benchmarked standards and assessments that prepare students for success in college and the workplace; • Recruiting, developing, retaining, and rewarding effective teachers and principals; • Building data systems that measure student success and inform teachers and principals how they can improve their practices; and • Turning around lowest-performing schoolsThe overarching goals are to:• Drive substantial gains in student achievement• Improve high school graduation rates and prepare students for success in college and careers• Close achievement gapsThe Department plans to make Race to the Top grants in two phases. States that are ready to apply may do so in Phase 1, which will open in late 2009. States that need more time may apply in Phase 2, which will open in spring 2010. States that apply in Phase 1 but are not awarded grants may reapply for funding in Phase 2, together with States that are applying for the first time in Phase 2. Phase 1 grantees may not apply for additional funding in Phase 2. We will announce specific deadlines for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 in subsequent notice(s) inviting applications for funds under this program.

Awards are made to States (as required by Section 14006(a)(2) of the ARRA). States that receive a Race to the Top grant must use at least 50 percent of the award to provide subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs), including public charter schools identified as LEAs under State law, based upon LEAs’ relative shares of funding under Part A of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended.

• Adopting internationally-benchmarked standards and assessments that prepare students for success in college and the workplace;
• Recruiting, developing, retaining, and rewarding effective teachers and principals;
• Building data systems that measure student success and inform teachers and principals how they can improve their practices; and
• Turning around lowest-performing schools

The overarching goals are to:
• Drive substantial gains in student achievement
• Improve high school graduation rates and prepare students for success in college and careers
• Close achievement gaps

The Department plans to make Race to the Top grants in two phases. States that are ready to apply may do so in Phase 1, which will open in late 2009. States that need more time may apply in Phase 2, which will open in spring 2010. States that apply in Phase 1 but are not awarded grants may reapply for funding in Phase 2, together with States that are applying for the first time in Phase 2. Phase 1 grantees may not apply for additional funding in Phase 2. We will announce specific deadlines for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 in subsequent notice(s) inviting applications for funds under this program.