Rules Finalized

11/16/2009

The U.S. Department of Education has announced that the Race to the Top rules have been finalized.  In applying for the Race to the Top funding, states will be asked to describe past sucesses and "plans to extend their reforms by using college- and career-ready standards and assessments, building a workforce of highly effective educators, creating educational data systems to support student achievement, and turning around their lowest-performing schools."  The $4.35 billion allocation for the Race to the Top Fund is an unprecedented investment in reform of public education.  States may file an application by January 19, 2010 under Phase 1 and successful state applicants will be announced by April 2010.  States needing more time may apply until June 1, 2010 under Phase 2 and successful state applicants will be announced by September 2010.  More information about the Race to the Top rules and guidelines are available at http://www.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/index.html.