Race to the Top Finalists Could Be Announced This Week

The states that are finalists for the first round of the federal Race to the Top grant application could be announced as early as this week, according to buzz from the U.S. Department of Education and national education blogs. 

Race to the Top is a highly competitive federal grant that will award $4.35 billion to a handful of states to implement reforms and innovations in K-12 education. The grants will be awarded in two rounds. The first round will be officially announced in April 2010. First round finalists will be invited to Washington, D.C. for interviews as early as this week. If states are not awarded in the first round, they can re-apply in June 2010.

Idaho applied for $120 million to implement reforms and innovations in several areas, including pay-for-performance, evaluations for teachers and administrators, statewide data collection systems, dual credit for high school students, and school improvement efforts.

More than half of Idaho’s school districts and public charter schools signed on to participate if Idaho is awarded the grant application. Read Idaho’s Race to the Top grant application online.

~ Melissa M.