Race to the Top and Stimulus Information

The 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is bringing stimulus funding to schools through the Race to the Top competition. CASB is following the developments and is pleased to provide you up-to-date information on stimulus funds and their impact on Colorado school districts. Return to this webpage for Race to the Top updates.

Update: Colorado receives $17.9 million in third round

The Colorado Department of Education learned in December 2011 that the state will receive nearly $18 million in Race to the Top funding for K-12 reform efforts. This application marked the third time Colorado has applied for Race to the Top funding, having lost in the first two rounds.

Colorado is one of seven states that will share $200 million in Phase 3 funding. The state’s grant will focus on four areas:

1.  CDE support of district implementation of statewide reforms
2.  Implementing Colorado Academic Standards
3.  Supporting implementation of Senate Bill 10-191
4.  Increasing access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education statewide

Half of the award is designated for district use. According to a CDE press release, all districts are eligible to participate in Phase 3, and district funds will be allocated based on their Title I share distributions. The state has 100 days following the grant award to determine which districts will receive funding.

Congress allocated another $700 million to the Race to the Top program in early 2011. The bulk of that money – $500 million – was to fund the Early Learning Challenge competition, an effort that rewarded states for creating comprehensive plans to transform early learning. Colorado applied for funding through that program, but did not receive it.

Overview of Race to the Top

Race to the Top (RTTT) is a U.S. Department of Education program funded with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) dollars. At $4.35 billion, the program represents the largest investment in school reform ever.

Congress and President Barack Obama launched the program in 2009 with two rounds of competition. While Colorado applied for funding in both rounds, the state was denied. Two states – Delaware and Tennessee – won the first round of competition. Another 10 states were awarded funding in the second round: the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Rhode Island.

As one of nine finalists in round two, Colorado received funding in a third round.

Race to the Top covers a four-year period and targets the following reform areas:

1. Great teachers and leaders
2. High-quality standards and assessments
3. Turning around the lowest-performing schools
4. Using data to improve instruction

More RTTT Information

CDE’s Phase 3 Race to the Top webpage
EdNews Colorado article
Denver Post article
U.S. Department of Education’s RTTT webpage

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