Second Phase Race to the Top Awards Announced

On August 25, 2010, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced that 10 applicants have won grants in the second phase of the Race to the Top competition. Along with Phase 1 winners Delaware and Tennessee, in total, 11 states, and the District of Columbia have now been awarded Race to the top funding. The 10 winning Phase 2 applications are: the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Rhode Island. The announcement also indicated that the Department will be bringing together the states to help ensure success in the core areas of their school reform plans.


Duncan's statement also noted that the level of funds available played a significant role in how many states were selected. However, he was hopeful that more money would be made available once the President's budget is approved. "We had many more competitive applications than money to fund them in this round. . . . We're very hopeful there will be a Phase 3 of Race to the Top and have requested $1.35 billion dollars in next year's budget. In the meantime, we will partner with each and every state that applied to help them find ways to carry out the bold reforms they've proposed in their applications."

A total of 46 states and the District of Columbia put together comprehensive education reform plans to apply for Race to the Top in Phases 1 and 2. Race to the Top was funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) to encourage and reward States that were moving towards large scale innovation and reform. For example, States had to be implementing plans in four key areas:

• 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 America’s lowest performing schools.

The Department also released the dollar amount each state is slated to receive and their point score:

•District of Columbia: $75 million. Score: 450.0

•Florida: $700 million. Score: 452.4

•Georgia: $400 million. Score: 446.4

•Hawaii: $75 million. Score: 462.4

•Maryland: $250 million. Score: 450.0

•Massachusetts: $250 million. Score: 471.0

•New York: $700 million. Score: 464.8

•North Carolina: $400 million. Score: 441.6


•Ohio: $400 million. Score: 440.8

•Rhode Island: $75 million. Score: 451.2

For more information, visit the Department's web page on Race to the Top here.