Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 111809 002
Apply for ED GRANTS 111809 002
- The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Race To The Top Fund CFDA Number 84.395A" and is now available to receive applicants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 18, 2009 and posted on Nov 18, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 2, 2010 Applications Available November 18, 2009. Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply for Phase 1 December 8, 2009. Date of Meeting for Potential Applicants The Department intends to hold two technical assistance planning workshops. The first will be in Denver, Colorado, on December 3, 2009. The second will be in the Washington, DC area on December 10, 2009. We recommend that applicants attend one of these two workshops. The purpose of the workshops would be for Department staff to review the selection criteria, requirements, and priorities with teams of participants responsible for drafting State applications, as well as for Department staff to answer technical questions about the Race to the Top program. The Department plans to release more details regarding the workshops in late November. Updates will be available at the Race to the Top Web site http://www.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop. Attendance at the workshops is strongly encouraged. For those who cannot attend, transcripts of the meetings will be available on our Web site. Announcements of any other conference calls or webinars and Frequently Asked Questions will also be available on the Race to the Top Web site. Deadlines for Transmittal of Applications Phase 1. Applications January 19, 2010. Phase 2 Applications June 1, 2010. Phase 2 applicants addressing selection criterion (B)(1)(ii)(b) may amend their June 1, 2010 application submission through August 2, 2010 by submitting evidence of having adopted common standards after June 1, 2010. No other information may be submitted after June 1, 2010 in an amended application. Deadlines for Intergovernmental Review Phase 1 Applications March 18, 2010. Phase 2 Applications August 2, 2010.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $4,000,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) State governments.
- Eligible Applicants Eligible applicants are the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico (referred to in this notice as State). A State must meet the following requirements in order to be eligible to receive funds under this program. (a) The States applications for funding under Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund program must be approved by the Department prior to the State being awarded a Race to the Top grant. (b) At the time the State submits its application, there must not be any legal, statutory, or regulatory barriers at the State level to linking data on student achievement (as defined in this notice) or student growth (as defined in this notice) to teachers and principals for the purpose of teacher and principal evaluation.
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Opportunity Summary:
Race to the Top Fund (CFDA 84.395A) was a large, one-time competitive grant program run by the U.S. Department of Education under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The core idea was to push statewide education innovation and major reforms by rewarding states that could show they were setting the right conditions for change and were willing to commit to ambitious, measurable improvement. The outcomes the program emphasized were higher student achievement, narrower achievement gaps, better high school graduation rates, and stronger preparation for college and careers.
To compete well, states had to present a credible statewide plan built around four central reform areas. First, states were expected to adopt internationally benchmarked standards and aligned assessments aimed at preparing students for success beyond high school. Second, they needed to build or strengthen longitudinal data systems that track student progress and can be used to guide instruction and improvement, including giving teachers and principals actionable information. Third, the program required a strong focus on teacher and principal effectiveness, including improving how effectiveness is measured and addressing inequities in how effective educators are distributed across schools. Fourth, states had to outline serious strategies for turning around the lowest-achieving schools, with clear approaches to dramatic improvement rather than small incremental change.
Eligibility was limited to state-level applicants: the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico (collectively referred to as "States" in the notice). Beyond being a state entity, there were two major gating requirements. A state needed to have its Phase 1 and Phase 2 applications for the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund approved by the Department before it could receive a Race to the Top award. In addition, at the time of submission, the state could not have legal, statutory, or regulatory barriers that prevented linking student achievement or student growth data to individual teachers and principals for evaluation purposes. In other words, states had to have a legal pathway to connect outcomes data to educator evaluation systems.
The total estimated funding noted for the opportunity was $4,000,000,000, and there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement described in the synopsis. The opportunity was categorized as a discretionary grant competition in the education funding area. The official, controlling requirements were those published in the Federal Register, and applicants were directed to rely on that notice for exact priorities, selection criteria, performance measures, and required forms and assurances.
The competition was structured around multiple phases and a tightly controlled timeline. Applications were first made available on November 18, 2009. For Phase 1, the notice of intent to apply was due December 8, 2009, and Phase 1 applications were due January 19, 2010, with intergovernmental review due by March 18, 2010. Phase 2 applications were due June 1, 2010, and Phase 2 intergovernmental review was due August 2, 2010. There was also a narrow amendment window for a specific Phase 2 selection criterion related to adopting common standards: Phase 2 applicants could submit evidence of adopting common standards after June 1, 2010, up through August 2, 2010, but no other new information could be added after the June 1 submission.
The submission rules were unusually strict and largely paper-and-media based rather than fully online. Applications had to be submitted by mail or hand delivery, and the Department strongly recommended overnight delivery. Being postmarked by the deadline was not enough; the application had to be physically received by the deadline, and late arrivals were not reviewed. The Department required the application package to include an electronic version on CD or DVD (with CD-ROM or DVD-ROM preferred), plus a signed original of specific assurance sections (Sections III and IV) and one copy of that signed original. The electronic files had to be in DOC, DOCX, RTF, or PDF format, clearly named by application part, and not password-protected. If an applicant submitted other file types, that material would not be reviewed.
Delivery instructions were spelled out with separate addresses for mail versus hand delivery/courier. Mailed applications went to the U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at the LBJ Basement Level 1 address on Maryland Avenue in Washington, DC. Hand-delivered applications went to the Potomac Center Plaza address on 12th Street, Room 7041, in Washington, DC, during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. DC time, excluding weekends and federal holidays). Applicants also had to mark the envelope with the CFDA number 84.395A. After submission, the Application Control Center would send a receipt notification, and applicants were instructed to call the Control Center if they did not receive that confirmation.
To help states prepare, the Department planned technical assistance workshops for potential applicants, one in Denver on December 3, 2009 and another in the Washington, DC area on December 10, 2009. These sessions were intended to walk teams through selection criteria, priorities, and requirements, and to answer technical questions. The Department also indicated it would post updates, FAQs, and transcripts on the Race to the Top website.
For official contacts, the synopsis listed a systems contact for access issues (Julius Cotton) and a program manager contact (James Butler) at the U.S. Department of Education. The key takeaway is that this opportunity targeted statewide reform at scale, tied eligibility to a state being ready to use student outcome data in educator evaluation, and enforced strict, deadline-driven submission requirements with specific formatting and delivery rules.
Race to the Top Fund (CFDA 84.395A) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Race to the Top Fund (CFDA 84.395A)?
Race to the Top Fund (CFDA 84.395A) was a large, one-time competitive discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Education under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The program was designed to encourage statewide education innovation and major reforms by rewarding states that could demonstrate readiness for change and commit to ambitious, measurable improvement.
What outcomes did Race to the Top emphasize?
The program emphasized improved student results at scale, including higher student achievement, narrower achievement gaps, better high school graduation rates, and stronger preparation for college and careers.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to state-level applicants: the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico (referred to collectively as "States" in the notice). The opportunity was not described as being open to local districts, schools, nonprofits, or other non-state entities as direct applicants.
What were the major eligibility "gating" requirements?
Beyond being an eligible state applicant, two major gating requirements were described:
- The state needed to have its Phase 1 and Phase 2 applications for the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund approved by the U.S. Department of Education before it could receive a Race to the Top award.
- At the time of submission, the state could not have legal, statutory, or regulatory barriers that prevented linking student achievement or student growth data to individual teachers and principals for evaluation purposes (i.e., the state needed a legal pathway to connect outcomes data to educator evaluation systems).
What were the four central reform areas states had to address in their statewide plan?
States were expected to present a credible statewide plan built around four central reform areas:
- Adopting internationally benchmarked standards and aligned assessments designed to prepare students for success beyond high school.
- Building or strengthening longitudinal data systems to track student progress and guide instruction and improvement, including providing actionable information to teachers and principals.
- Focusing on teacher and principal effectiveness, including improving how effectiveness is measured and addressing inequities in the distribution of effective educators.
- Turning around the lowest-achieving schools through serious strategies aimed at dramatic improvement rather than incremental change.
How much total funding was estimated for this opportunity?
The total estimated funding noted in the opportunity synopsis was $4,000,000,000.
Was cost-sharing or matching required?
No cost-sharing or matching requirement was described in the synopsis provided.
What type of grant competition was this?
The opportunity was categorized as a discretionary grant competition in the education funding area.
Where were the controlling requirements published?
The official, controlling requirements were those published in the Federal Register. Applicants were directed to rely on the Federal Register notice for exact priorities, selection criteria, performance measures, and required forms and assurances.
When were applications first made available?
Applications were first made available on November 18, 2009.
What were the Phase 1 deadlines?
The Phase 1 timeline included:
- Notice of intent to apply due: December 8, 2009
- Phase 1 application due: January 19, 2010
- Intergovernmental review due: March 18, 2010
What were the Phase 2 deadlines?
The Phase 2 timeline included:
- Phase 2 application due: June 1, 2010
- Phase 2 intergovernmental review due: August 2, 2010
Was there any opportunity to amend a Phase 2 application after the June 1, 2010 deadline?
Yes, but it was narrowly limited. Phase 2 applicants could submit evidence of adopting common standards after June 1, 2010, up through August 2, 2010, for a specific Phase 2 selection criterion related to adopting common standards. No other new information could be added after the June 1 submission.
How were applications required to be submitted?
Applications had to be submitted by mail or hand delivery (including courier). The Department strongly recommended overnight delivery. Submission was not described as fully online; the rules were largely paper-and-media based.
Did the application have to be postmarked by the deadline, or received by the deadline?
The application had to be physically received by the deadline. Being postmarked by the deadline was not sufficient. Late arrivals were not reviewed.
What materials had to be included with the submission?
The application package had to include:
- An electronic version on CD or DVD (CD-ROM or DVD-ROM preferred).
- A signed original of specific assurance sections (Sections III and IV).
- One copy of that signed original.
What file formats were accepted for the electronic application files?
Electronic files had to be in DOC, DOCX, RTF, or PDF format. Files needed to be clearly named by application part and could not be password-protected. If other file types were submitted, that material would not be reviewed.
Where were mailed applications sent?
Mailed applications were sent to the U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at the LBJ Basement Level 1 address on Maryland Avenue in Washington, DC.
Where were hand-delivered or courier-delivered applications sent?
Hand-delivered applications were delivered to the Potomac Center Plaza address on 12th Street, Room 7041, in Washington, DC, during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. DC time), excluding weekends and federal holidays.
Were there labeling instructions for the application package?
Yes. Applicants had to mark the envelope with the CFDA number 84.395A.
How did applicants confirm the Department received the application?
After submission, the Application Control Center would send a receipt notification. Applicants were instructed to call the Control Center if they did not receive that confirmation.
Were technical assistance workshops offered for potential applicants?
Yes. The Department planned technical assistance workshops intended to walk teams through selection criteria, priorities, and requirements, and to answer technical questions.
When and where were the technical assistance workshops scheduled?
Two workshops were described:
- Denver: December 3, 2009
- Washington, DC area: December 10, 2009
Were additional updates or FAQs expected to be published by the Department?
Yes. The Department indicated it would post updates, FAQs, and transcripts on the Race to the Top website.
Who were the listed official contacts for this opportunity?
The synopsis listed a systems contact for access issues (Julius Cotton) and a program manager contact (James Butler) at the U.S. Department of Education.
What was the key policy condition related to educator evaluation?
A major condition was that, at the time of submission, the state could not have legal, statutory, or regulatory barriers preventing the linking of student achievement or student growth data to individual teachers and principals for evaluation purposes.
What did the program expect regarding turning around low-performing schools?
States had to outline serious strategies for turning around the lowest-achieving schools, with an emphasis on dramatic improvement rather than small incremental changes.
What did the program expect regarding data systems?
States were expected to build or strengthen longitudinal data systems that track student progress and can be used to guide instruction and improvement, including providing teachers and principals with actionable information.
What did the program expect regarding standards and assessments?
States were expected to adopt internationally benchmarked standards and aligned assessments aimed at preparing students for success beyond high school.
What did the program expect regarding teacher and principal effectiveness?
States were expected to focus on teacher and principal effectiveness by improving how effectiveness is measured and addressing inequities in the distribution of effective educators across schools.
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