Race to the Top Update: ED Conference Call

NSBA is working on comments to the U.S. Department of Education’s Notice of Proposed Priorities for the Race to the Top (RTT) Fund. This Notice was published in the Federal Register on July 29, 2009. The deadline for submitting written comments to the Department is August 28th.

The Department is also slated to announce a separate notice about the new Investing in Innovation Fund (IIF) shortly.

In a conference call held on August 5, Department officials discussed the recent Notice of Proposed Priorities for the Race to the Top Fund that includes the following four goals for education advancement:
• Development of standards and assessments;
• Teacher quality;
• Collection and use of data to inform instruction; and
• Assistance for schools needing improvement.

During the conference call, Department officials responded to questions about the Notice and shared preliminary information about the Investing in Innovation Fund (IIF). A number of discussion points was covered, including the following.

Race to the Top Fund (RTT)
• States must apply individually for Race to the Top competitive grants. However, states are encouraged to form consortia to help disseminate information and best practices.

• If a state is awarded a grant from the Race to the Top Fund, at least 50 percent of the grant award must go to participating local education agencies (LEAs). This information is stated in the “Statutory Context” of the Notice of Proposed Priorities.

• In order for a school district to be an eligible participating LEA for Race to the Top funding, the district must agree to implement all goals of its state’s plan. During the conference call, Department officials suggested developing memoranda of agreement (MOA) between LEAs and state education agencies (SEAs) to help implement such an agreement. According to the Notice of Proposed Priorities, “LEAs that choose to participate in their State's Race to the Top proposal must agree to fully implement the State's proposed plan and to use their funding under this grant in support of that plan.”

• Department officials will review all comments to the Notice of Proposed Priorities and will make subsequent changes. The final application for states is to be available this fall.

• Race to the Top grants are scheduled to be awarded in two phases – Spring 2010 and by September 2010. Officials stated that Phase I awardees will not have to reapply for grants in Phase II.

• Department officials covered the Notice’s proposed “eligibility requirements” for states as Race to the Top applicants: 1) state applications for funding under Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF) program must be approved by the Department by December 31, 2009, and 2) a state must not have any legal, statutory, or regulatory barriers to linking data on student achievement or student growth (as defined in the Notice) to teachers and principals for the purpose of teacher and principal evaluation.

• Among the priorities proposed in the Notice is one comprehensive or “absolute” priority that a State’s “application must comprehensively address each of the four education reform areas specified in the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to demonstrate that the State and its participating LEAs are taking a systemic approach to education reform.”

The next priority outlined is a proposed “competitive” priority regarding a state’s progress to advance STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). The three “invitational” priorities proposed in the Notice are how a state would report on Expansion and Adaptation of Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems, P-20 Coordination and Vertical Alignment, and School-Level Conditions for Reform and Innovation.

When asked if a state chooses not to apply under all priorities, but just the required one (i.e. “absolute priority”) and others, Department officials responded, “yes,” indicating that such an application would be permissible.

• The Department’s web page for the Race to the Top Fund is http://www.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop.

Investing in Innovation Fund (IIF)

• This is a separate $650 million competitive grant program available to school districts and non-profit organizations.

• Two closing dates will be scheduled in the winter and spring of 2010 for competitive local grants awarded through the new $650 million Investing in Innovation Fund.

• All funds must be obligated by September 30, 2010.

• Grants would be awarded to local educational agencies and nonprofit organizations working in collaboration with one or more LEAs or a consortium of schools. To be eligible, an LEA must have made progress in areas including raising student achievement and significantly closing the achievement gap.

• Among the key elements to be considered in awarding IIF grants are outcomes in student achievement, student matriculation and student graduation rates. Also, the sustainability of innovative programs and scalability of programs to expand capacity will be considered.

• Department officials mentioned an IIF program goal of creating platforms for “transformational innovation,” and stated that the Department will be publishing a notice of proposed priorities, requirements, definitions and selection criteria in the Federal Register and will be inviting public comment soon.