OpportunityTitle: Office of Elementary &amp; Secondary Education; Overview Information: Race to the Top Fund (ARRA)  CFDA 84.395
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: States. As defined by Section 14013 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the term &#147;State&#148; means each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 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&apos; relative shares of funding under Part A of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended.
Description: 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:&#149; Adopting internationally-benchmarked standards and assessments that prepare students for success in college and the workplace; &#149; Recruiting, developing, retaining, and rewarding effective teachers and principals; &#149; Building data systems that measure student success and inform teachers and principals how they can improve their practices; and &#149; Turning around lowest-performing schoolsThe overarching goals are to:&#149; Drive substantial gains in student achievement&#149; Improve high school graduation rates and prepare students for success in college and careers&#149; 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.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: e-Mail: Program Manager
GrantorContactText: Julius Cotton &lt;br/&gt;ED Grants.gov FIND Systems Admin. &lt;br/&gt;Phone 202-245-6140 &lt;br/&gt;julius.cotton@ed.gov &lt;br/&gt;Program Manager &lt;br/&gt;Jim Butler &lt;br/&gt;U.S. Department of Education &lt;br/&gt;400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Rm. 3E239 &lt;br/&gt;Washington, DC 20202-5970 &lt;br/&gt;Telephone: 202-205-3775 or by e-mail
CloseDateExplanation: In a notice published in the Federal Register on July 29, 2009 the Department invited comments on the proposed priorities, requirements, definitions, and selection criteria.  The comment period closed on August 28, 2009.The Notice of Proposed Priorities is available at http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/proprule/2009-3/072909d.pdf