New Teacher-Grant Program Could Herald Federal Shift

New $25 million fund based on competition

Several high-profile teacher-training and -professional-development groups that recently lost federal set-asides—from Teach For America to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards—will have an opportunity to recapture some of that funding under the terms of a newly unveiled $25 million federal competition. ( "Programs Suffer Cuts in Funding," March 9, 2011.)

Yet unanswered is how many other groups will even be eligible to apply under the terms of the tightly written competition , which prioritizes activities similar to those of the formerly financed groups, is open only to national nonprofit organizations, and requires applicants to cite research evidence of their effectiveness.

“It’s a carve-out program that rewards programs with records of success,” said David A. DeSchryver, an expert on federal education grants. “They clearly have certain programs in mind, and they are investing in...