Learning Point Associates

The $4.35 billion Race to the Top Fund is the largest ever federal competitive investment in school reform. It will reward states for past accomplishments and create incentives for future improvements. The funding criteria that the Department proposes to use will challenge states to create comprehensive strategies for addressing the four central areas of reform that will drive school improvement. 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.

States are the entities eligible to compete in the Race to the Top competition. They will submit applications individually, not as part of a consortium, though collaboration among states will be rewarded. States' plans for reform must be comprehensive and coherent, integrating and addressing all four reform areas. And, in order to be eligible to apply, states must have:

• Approved applications for funding under both Phase 1 and 2 of the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund program; and
• No statutory or regulatory barriers to linking data about student growth and achievement to teachers for the purposes of teacher and principal evaluation.

General Information

• Deadlines: Application deadline not yet announced.
  • ED Executive Summary: http://www.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/executive-summary.pdf
  • Summary Prepared by the Great Lakes East and Great Lakes West Comprehensive Centers Operated by Learning Point Associates: http://www.learningpt.org/recovery/RaceToTheTopSummary.pdf
• Fact Sheets and Guidance
  • Fact Sheet: http://www.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/factsheet.html
  • Proposed Priorities: http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/proprule/2009-3/072909d.html
• Webpage: http://www.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/index.html

Supporting Information

• Events
  • Education Stakeholders Forum August 4, 2009
    • Transcript http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/presentation/08042009-transcript.doc
    • Powerpoint Presentation http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/presentation/08042009-stakeholders.pdf
    • Video - Part I http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtjUozOKOGM
    • Video -Part II http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtOJ0ze0LmY
  • July 24, 2009, Race to the Top Announcement with President Obama and Secretary Duncan
    • Press Release: President Obama, U.S. Secretary of Education Duncan Announce National Competition to Advance School Reform, http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/07/07242009.html
    • Video Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsPGVO_4pkw
    • Webcast: http://www.connectlive.com/events/deptedu/
    • President Obama's Remarks: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-at-the-Department-of-Education/
    • Secretary Duncan's Speech: http://www.ed.gov/news/speeches/2009/07/07242009.html
• Materials and Resources
  • U.S. Department of Education Program Plan, http://www.recovery.gov/?q=content/program-plan&program_id=7730
  • On November 24, 2009, the U.S. Department of Education posted Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the Race to the Top Fund at http://www.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/faq.html. (Note: The direct link to the document is http://www.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/faq.pdf.)

U.S. Department of Education Contact Information:

• General: http://www.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/contacts.html