Race to the Top

Education news, analysis, and opinion about the federal grant program to states that encouraged education reform from 2010 to 2013
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See also: Federal Policy, Department of Education

Teaching Opinion 6 Lessons on the Power of Teacher Leadership
Learn how the Tennessee Department of Education and teachers from across the state worked together to develop innovative teacher leader models.
Emily Douglas-McNab, January 15, 2015
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5 min read
Lori Smith (left) and Heather Hobbs (right), two teacher leaders in the Kingsport City Schools district, participate in a common-core training session in Kingsport, Tenn.
Lori Smith (left) and Heather Hobbs (right), two teacher leaders in the Kingsport City Schools district, participate in a common-core training session in Kingsport, Tenn.
Lauren Camera
Education Funding Tennessee Teachers Chafe at Common-Core Uncertainty
Over the past three years, the state has invested heavily in common-core training for teachers, but has recently signaled a weaker commitment to the standards amid rising opposition.
Lauren Camera, November 25, 2014
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13 min read
Federal Republicans Will Control Senate in the 114th Congress
With a Republican wave in the midterm elections, conservatives clinch control over the U.S. Senate.
Lauren Camera, November 4, 2014
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4 min read
Education Funding Federal K-12 Policy Evolves as Staff Turns Over
Some Obama administration officials behind key education initiatives have moved on, and those now in place bring their own approaches and perspectives.
Alyson Klein, November 4, 2014
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8 min read
Standards & Accountability Arne Duncan Talks K-12 Policy in Tennessee, Where It's Somewhat Stalled
Tennessee recently delayed the use of its new common-core aligned state tests, and Gov. Bill Haslam announced that the state will begin a public vetting of the standards.
Lauren Camera, October 28, 2014
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1 min read
Federal Ed. Dept. Churn Brings New Faces to Key Initiatives
Many of the folks originally in charge of major initiatives, including Race to the Top, NCLB waivers, and School Improvement Grants, have left the building.
Alyson Klein, October 7, 2014
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2 min read
Jamila Smith, left, and Danielle Smith pack their office belongings at the Education Department in Washington. Both employees are staff members in the office of the deputy secretary who will be transferring to the new the office of state support.
Jamila Smith, left, and Danielle Smith pack their office belongings at the Education Department in Washington. Both employees are staff members in the office of the deputy secretary who will be transferring to the new the office of state support.
Eric Kruszewski for Education Week
Education Funding Federal Monitoring of K-12 Efforts to Take Team Approach
A new office at the U.S. Department of Education will aim to reduce duplication and boost support for states when it comes to monitoring and administering federal grant programs.
Alyson Klein, October 7, 2014
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6 min read
Sen. Jason Carter, the Democratic candidate for governor, has clashed with his opponent on issues such as K-12 funding and expansion of charter schools.
Sen. Jason Carter, the Democratic candidate for governor, has clashed with his opponent on issues such as K-12 funding and expansion of charter schools.
Dustin Chambers for Education Week
Education Funding Key Georgia Electoral Contests Put K-12 Front and Center
Accountability, governance, common standards, and funding are among the top issues in the tight races for governor and state schools superintendent in Georgia.
Andrew Ujifusa, September 29, 2014
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8 min read
Education Funding No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top Targeted by Ga. Superintendent Hopefuls
Federal education law, and competitive-grant initiatives from Washington, are catching quite a bit of heat from the two candidates seeking to be Georgia's next schools chief.
Andrew Ujifusa, September 17, 2014
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4 min read
ALABAMA: U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Ala., takes a selfie with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on a stop in Birmingham on his back-to-school bus tour last week.
<b>ALABAMA:</b> U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Ala., takes a selfie with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on a stop in Birmingham on his back-to-school bus tour last week.
--Lauren Camera for Education Week
Federal Q&A: U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Talks Waivers, Competitive Grants
In an interview during his recent back-to-school bus tour, the education secretary discussed highlighted some of his top priorities.
Lauren Camera, September 17, 2014
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6 min read
Education Funding Latest Waiver Move Could Weaken Key Obama Priority
The Education Department will let states with NCLB waivers seek a delay in tying student test scores to teacher evaluations until the 2015-16 school year.
Lauren Camera, August 22, 2014
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5 min read
Federal What Happens on K-12 Policy if Republicans Take Over the U.S. Senate?
The person best positioned to make an educated guess on that question is Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., the top Republican on the Senate education committee. Alexander is the likeliest candidate to take over the helm of the Senate education committee if the chamber flips to GOP control in the fall.
Alyson Klein, July 31, 2014
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6 min read
Education Funding Opinion RHSU Flashback: Racing to the Jargon
Last week's fifth anniversary of Race to the Top left me nostalgic for its glorious early days, when everyone kept telling me what an unprecedented game-changer RTT was. I wasn't sold then (a lonely stance), and am even less convinced now (no longer such a lonely stance). Anyway, I thought it might be fun to revisit the RHSU I penned on March 5, 2010, the day after Secretary Duncan giddily named the Round 1 RTT finalists.
Rick Hess, July 30, 2014
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4 min read
Student Achievement Race to the Top Is Five Years Old, But Did It Actually Improve Student Achievement?
When Race the Top started, researchers noted that many of the policies it favored didn't have a strong scientific base to back them up.
Alyson Klein, July 29, 2014
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2 min read
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