Friday, August 2, 2013

Applications for latest Race to the Top and share of $120 million due Oct. 3 SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources

SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources:


Applications for latest Race to the Top and share of $120 million due Oct. 3
By Kimberly Beltran
Friday, August 02, 2013

Money Fairy is coming to your District, Well Maybe!

School districts with innovative strategies for personalizing each pupil’s learning experience through enhanced student-teacher relationships could receive millions of additional dollars under the Obama Administration’s 2013 Race to the Top-District grant program, details of which were announced this week.
In releasing the application for its latest Race to the Top competition, the U.S. Department of Education said it would provide up to $120 million to support “bold, locally-directed improvements in learning and teaching” that will directly improve student achievement and educator effectiveness.
“The Race to the Top-District competition is an opportunity for trailblazing districts across the country to implement models of personalized learning so that every child graduates college and career ready,” U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said in a statement. “The program is designed to support teachers and school leaders in their use of innovative strategies as we seek to build a stronger future for America’s students.”
Since 2009, the administration’s RTTT grant program has funded education reform nationwide, leading 46 states and the District of Columbia to pursue higher college- and career-ready standards, data-driven decision making, greater support for teachers and leaders, and turnaround interventions in low performing schools. Although it applied, California was not among the states winning an award.

In 2012, the Department rolled out its first district-only competition to support original, locally-driven educational