NEW: Feds Approve $75 Million Race to Top Plan

NEW: Feds Approve $75 Million Race to Top Plan

Rhode Island’s plan for how it would use $75 million in federal Race to the Top funds has been approved, the state Department of Education announced this afternoon.

The approval was granted by the U.S. Department of Education.

“I am pleased that the U.S. Department of Education has recognized that RIDE and all of our school districts have worked diligently to develop excellent plans to put Race to the Top funds into action,” said George Caruolo, Chairman of the Board of Regents. “I am confident that educators across the state are ready to take on the hard work of making our schools the best in America, and this grant will support them in that work.”

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Education Commissioner Deborah Gist said the approval allows the state to “move forward with urgency and dedication” to make sure there are excellent teachers in every classroom, excellent leaders in every school, and a “world-class education” for all Rhode Island students.

Where the money is going

According to the Rhode Island Department of Education the funds will be used to develop the following:

• world-class standards and assessments;
• user-friendly data systems to improve instruction;
• mentoring and training for all teachers and school leaders;
• educator-evaluation systems to improve teacher effectiveness; and
• systems of support for the lowest-achieving schools.

Among the specific initiatives that Race to the Top funds will support are:

• training for educators regarding new world-class standards;
• training in the use of data to improve instruction;
• support for a new system that will track education data over multiple years;
• information for teachers and families on student growth and achievement at the classroom, school, and district levels;
• data and other support for an educator-evaluation system that RIDE will design in partnership with educators;
• support toward developing new models of teacher compensation;
• stronger induction programs for new teachers and school leaders;
• training in the management of human resources;
• development of a deeper applicant pool for subjects that are hard to staff;
• increased supports for principals and teacher leaders; and
• partnerships with professional organizations that have proven records of success.

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