When talking about educational grants, hundreds exist, some better than others. This particular grant has funding for the total program of $4 billion, which is associated with the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund for state incentives. Eligibility for this particular educational grant is specific to state governments for all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. However, for a State to be approved for this grant, specific criteria must be met to include:
• Under Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund program, application by the state would need to be approved by the Department of Education before being awarded funding
• When the State submits an application, no statutory, regulatory, or legal obstacles could exist at the State level that would connect a student’s achievement or growth to any teachers or principals specifically for evaluation of teachers or principals.
The Race to the Top Fund grant was developed as a competitive program authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 or ARRA. The goal of the grant is to provide encouragement, as well as to reward the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico for creating pathways to innovative education and reform. In addition, this grant was developed to significantly, boost a student achievement, which would include student achievement gains, closure of achievement gaps, improve graduation rates for high school students, and to help prepare students for success as they move on to college and/or lifetime careers.
The Race to the Top Fund grant was also created as a means of getting ambitious plans implemented into the four core areas for education reform. These four areas include:
1. Adoption of internationally based standards and assessments meant to get students prepared for college and career success
2. Development of data systems that would make it possible for student success to be measured, as well as level of success regarding improvement of educational practices by teachers and principals
3. Increase teacher effectiveness while achieving teacher distribution equity
4. Transform low-achieving schools
Any applications for the Race to the Top Fund grant would need to be submitted by hand or regular mail, with the Department of Education suggesting overnight courier. For any submitted applications received with the postmark of the deadline date but arriving after the deadline will not be read or considered. Other requirements for application of this grant include:
• Format for submitted application and deadline application to include any amendments relating to the adoption of common standards Phase 2 applicants might file after the June 1, 2010 date, and through August 2, 2010 would need to be submitted using electronic format using a DVD or CD. The original of Sections III and IV would need to be signed, with the original included along with a single copy of the signed original. Electronic application files must be sent in using Word in the form of .doc or .docx, as well as Rich Text Format as .rtf, or Portable Document or .PDF with the file name being clearly visible. Any other electronic format will not be accepted and electronic files should never be password-protected. All grant applications must be received no later than 4:30 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) no later than the deadline date. Any applications received at 4:31 pm will not be accepted.
• Applications being mailed must be submitted by the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico via DVD or CD with the signed original of Sections III and IV, as well as the top copy of the original using the United States Postal Service or an overnight courier. Mailed applications for this grant must be received on or before the deadline date. The address for mailed applications is US Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention (CFDA Number 84.395A), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC, 20202-4260. Any mailed application arriving past the deadline date will not be read or considered.
• Applications being hand delivered must be in DVD or CD form with the signed original of Sections III and IV, as well as the top copy of the original. Hand delivery means the application would be delivered using a courier service. Hand delivery of applications would be taken to the US Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.395A), 550 12th Street SW, Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC, 20202-4260. Hand delivered applications for this grant will only be accepted between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm, Eastern Standard Time (EST), Monday through Friday, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and all Federal holidays. Applications received after the deadline date will not be read or considered.
• Applications, whether mailed or hand delivered must be in an acceptable envelope. The CFDA Number must be noted on the outside of the envelope for the applicable grant.
• Once the application for the Race to the Top Fund grant has been received, the applicant would receive notification from the Application Control Center. If no notification is received, the applicant can contact the US Department of Education’s Application Control Center at 202-245-6288
