Race to the Top Interim Final Requirements

The Department of Education (ED) has amended the final requirements for the Race to the Top fund. The Race to the Top Fund notice inviting applicants (NIA) for fiscal year 2010, published on November 18, 2009, provided two application deadlines: Phase 1, due January 19, 2010, and Phase 2, due June 1, 2010. In the NIA, ED provided flexibility to states in planning their budgets, with nonbinding budget ranges given for each state. The budget ranges were developed by ranking each state according to the percentage of its population between the ages of five through 17, and then grouping the states into five categories. In the 41 applications received for Phase 1, there was significant variation as to the extent to which states conformed to the nonbinding budget ranges. The budget requests ranged from 90 percent to 297 percent of the suggested budget maximums. For Phase 2, ED is now amending the final requirements to establish the suggested budget ranges as mandatory funding limits. According to ED, requiring states to conform to the budget ranges will allow more grants to be awarded. Phase 2 applications remain due on June 1, 2010. Due to time constraints, ED is publishing the interim final requirements without first publishing proposed requirements for public comment. ED is, however, requesting public comment on the requirements, which must be received by May 3, 2010.

75 Fed.Reg. 16,668 (Apr. 2, 2010)
ED’s RTTT final priorities