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

Education Funding What Happens in Districts When Race to Top Funds Run Out?
The defeat of a referendum in Delaware's Seaford school district illustrates the challenges in the dozen Race to the Top states as the money starts to run out.
Michele McNeil, March 3, 2014
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1 min read
States Common Core and Medicaid Expansion: Comparing Big Decisions by States
Does the widespread rebuke by states of the Medicaid expansion show that states are not so easily coerced by the federal government--and its money--after all?
Andrew Ujifusa, February 7, 2014
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8 min read
Education Funding Anti-Common Core Legislation to Be Introduced by Ga. Congressman
Rep. Phil Gingrey wants to stop the federal government "from either directly or indirectly mandating or incentivizing state and local academic standards and curricula."
Andrew Ujifusa, February 6, 2014
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1 min read
Education Funding State Chiefs Reaffirm Intent to Safeguard Student Data
In a letter to the U.S. Department of Education, schools chiefs from 34 states say they will not share personally identifiable student data with the federal government.
Catherine Gewertz & Michele McNeil, February 4, 2014
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4 min read
Teaching Profession Opinion Paul Horton: Why Obama's Education Policies Will Not Change and Why "Change is Hard"
What the President did not tell the AFT crowd in 2008 was that the school that he was describing was a charter school that had closed its doors to a large percentage of students who started with the class
Anthony Cody, February 4, 2014
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6 min read
President Barack Obama addressed prekindergarten, college affordability, technology, and other key education priorities in his Jan. 28 State of the Union address. But he steered clear of new K-12 initiatives. The president is expected to lean heavily on his executive authority in pressing his education agenda in the coming year.
President Barack Obama addressed prekindergarten, college affordability, technology, and other key education priorities in his Jan. 28 State of the Union address. But he steered clear of new K-12 initiatives. The president is expected to lean heavily on his executive authority in pressing his education agenda in the coming year.
Larry Downing/Reuters
Education Funding Obama Uses Address to Push K-12 Agenda
President Barack Obama steered clear of new education initiatives in his State of the Union address, but is expected to use executive authority to push his priorities.
Alyson Klein & Michele McNeil, January 31, 2014
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5 min read
Education Funding Georgia Forfeits, For Now, $9 Million in Race to Top Funds
Georgia decided not to pursue an administrative hearing with the U.S. Department of Education and becomes the first state to lose part of its Race to the Top grant because it didn't implement a promised merit-pay plan.
Michele McNeil, January 27, 2014
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1 min read
Standards & Accountability Opinion For Arne Duncan, the Buck Stops Over There
Our current US secretary of education, sadly, has shown little capacity to accept blame or take criticism for much of anything, but is a master of deflection. With Arne Duncan, time and again, the buck stops not here, but over there.
Anthony Cody, January 25, 2014
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8 min read
Standards & Accountability Opinion Duncan: Bill Gates Has No Seat at the Education Policy Table
Let's take the Common Core, one of the projects that the Department of Education has been actively promoting for the past four years. How have philanthropists like Bill Gates influenced the creation and advance of this project
Anthony Cody, January 24, 2014
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3 min read
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, following a Democratic policy lunch. A massive $1.1 trillion spending bill, aimed at funding the government through October and putting to rest the bitter budget battles of last year, is getting generally positive reviews from House Republicans who are eager to avoid another shutdown crisis with elections looming.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, following a Democratic policy lunch. A massive $1.1 trillion spending bill, aimed at funding the government through October and putting to rest the bitter budget battles of last year, is getting generally positive reviews from House Republicans who are eager to avoid another shutdown crisis with elections looming.
Susan Walsh/AP
Education Funding Federal Spending Plan Aims to Ease 'Sequester' Pain
Early education is a winner in the massive bill worked out in Congress, but key Obama initiatives come up short.
Alyson Klein, January 17, 2014
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6 min read
Education Funding Best of the Blogs Blogs of the Week
| NEWS | State EdWatch
January 7, 2014
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8 min read
Education Funding Audit: Increasing Risk That Race to Top Work Won't Get Finished on Time
A new report from the U.S. Department of Education's inspector general chronicles implementation woes in Race to the Top states.
Michele McNeil, January 7, 2014
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1 min read
Early Childhood Latest Race to Top Early-Learning Grants Unveiled
Six states are splitting nearly $281 million in the third round of the U.S. Department of Education's effort to boost early-learning programs.
Christina A. Samuels, January 6, 2014
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3 min read
Myrtle Hall IV Elementary School teacher Gabrielle Wooden, left, and 1st grader Camilyn Anderson, 7, lead a Spanish class in Clarksdale, Miss. The Clarksdale school system won a $10 million Race to the Top grant for a range of school improvement efforts in the latest round of the federal competition.
Myrtle Hall IV Elementary School teacher Gabrielle Wooden, left, and 1st grader Camilyn Anderson, 7, lead a Spanish class in Clarksdale, Miss. The Clarksdale school system won a $10 million Race to the Top grant for a range of school improvement efforts in the latest round of the federal competition.
Rogelio V. Solis/AP-File
Education Funding Rural Districts Score Big in Latest Race to Top Round
Five winners, all from the South, are splitting $120 million of the federal grant funding, in the competition that mostly rewarded small and rural districts.
Michele McNeil, January 6, 2014
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6 min read
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