Grant applicantions for phase 1 of the program will be submitted late this year and phase 2 applications are due in the spring.

The grants will be based on how well states perform in four main areas of improvement including the adoption of international benchmark standards, recruiting and retaining effective teachers and principals, building systems to measure student success and teacher improvement and turning around low performing schools.

Bennett says Indiana is already aggressively attacking the criteria for the funding.

Press Release

Indiana has positioned itself to become a national winner of federal Race to the Top Fund grant money, according to Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Tony Bennett, who attended an announcement by President Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan of the draft guidelines for states to apply for the $4.35 billion dollar Race to the Top fund in Washington, D.C. today.

“Our efforts to improve student achievement, ensure school options for students, and reward our outstanding educators have not gone unnoticed in Washington,” Bennett said. “President Obama and Secretary Duncan share our vision for reform and plan to use the $4.35 billion Race to the Top Fund to reward states, like Indiana, that are committed to taking swift, innovative, and dramatic steps to improve instructional quality and student learning.”

President Obama today announced the criteria by which Race to the Top Fund grants would be awarded. They include 19 specific criteria in four primary areas of improvement:

Adopting internationally-benchmarked standards and assessments that prepare students for success in college and the workplace;
Recruiting, developing, retaining, and rewarding effective teachers and principals;
Building data systems that measure student success and inform teachers and principals how they can improve their practices; and
Turning around our lowest-performing schools.

The Indiana Department of Education has already begun identifying potential Race to the Top programs in anticipation of today’s announcement.

“It’s called a ‘Race’ for a reason, and from the beginning, we approached this competition with a sense of urgency,” Bennett said. “The Race to the Top initiative is designed to be an equation-changer in education. Some thought we were moving too quickly, but today we have proof that it’s paying off. Already, Indiana is aggressively attacking the criteria announced today by President Obama. We’re right on track to be among the winners competing for this funding.”

Bennett opposed the effort in the Indiana General Assembly to place a moratorium on new charter schools, which Secretary Duncan had warned would endanger Indiana’s ability to compete for Race to the Top funds. The moratorium effort failed. Indiana’s budget, passed late last month, included language allowing for factors other than seniority to be considered in teacher evaluations, another factor Obama and Duncan had warned would be necessary for Race to the Top eligibility.

In May, Bennett created a Graduation Rate Performance Program to reward principals and educators whose guidance and leadership result in increased graduation rates, which coincides with Obama’s call for states to adopt ‘pay for performance’ policies in education.

States will submit Phase 1 Race to the Top Fund applications in late 2009 and/or Phase 2 applications in late spring of 2010.

Source: Indiana Department of Education