RTTT Round 2
35 states and DC submitted applications yesterday in Round 2 of Race to the Top to win a share of the remaining $3.4billion provided by Obama’s administration for educational reform. The total grant amount is $4.35billion out of which $350million will be used for a separate competition to improve quality of assessments, and $600 million of which has already been awarded to Delaware and Tennessee in Round 1.
Education Secretary Arne Duncan commended all of the states that applied saying, “This took a lot of hard work and political courage. It required administrators, elected officials, union leaders, teachers, and advocates to work together and embrace a common reform agenda. Every state that applied now has a blueprint for raising educational quality across America.”
At least one blogger out there sees the top picks shaking out similar to those in the sweet 16 of Round 1 (minus Delaware and Tennessee of course).
Round 2 winners will be selected using the same process as Round 1, a 500 point scoring system, but will also be looked at based on the characteristics of the Round 1 winning states-Delaware and Tennessee. Finalists will be notified the week of July 26th and will schedule in-person presentations before peer reviewers. Final awards are expected later in August. Depending on the size of the states, 10-15 states could win grants in Round 2.