Charter networks win Race to the Top-District
Charter school networks are now official “districts,” at least by the rules of the Department of Education’s Race to the Top-District competition, which just announced that 16 applicants had each won a share of nearly $400 million in the latest sweepstakes.
A news release issued by the department quoted Secretary Arne Duncan as saying:
Districts have been hungry to drive reform at the local level, and now these winners can empower their school leaders to pursue innovative ideas where they have the greatest impact: in the classroom.
Among the winners (a complete list is below) are these charter networks:
KIPP DC, Washington, D.C.
* Harmony Science Academy (Harmony Public Schools), Texas, consortium leader
(consortium members: Harmony School of Excellence, Harmony School of Science-Houston, Harmony Science Academy-Austin, Harmony Science Academy-Brownsvill
(consortium members: Harmony School of Excellence, Harmony School of Science-Houston, Harmony Science Academy-Austin, Harmony Science Academy-Brownsvill