Race to the Top

September 2, 2010 - A consortium in which Wisconsin is a governing state won $160 million in the Race to the Top Assessment program:

• Assessment Statement (State Supt. Tony Evers)

July 27, 2010 - Wisconsin's application to the main Race to the Top program will not move forward:

• Round 2 Application Statement (State Supt. Tony Evers)

Program Description: Race to the Top is a $4 billion fund created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Race to the Top provides incentives to states to implement large-scale, system-changing reforms that result in improved student achievement, narrowed achievement gaps, and increased graduation and college enrollment rates (USDE, 2009).

Wisconsin invited school districts to participate in the statewide effort to win funding in Round 2 of the competition. The federal government requires local education agencies (LEAs) to sign off on certain requirements in order to receive funding.

Funding: More than $3.1 billion is left in the Race to the Top fund after Round 1. Wisconsin is working with school districts to complete an application for up to $250 million. (Based on Wisconsin's student population, the USDE has projected a range of $150 - $250 million for any award that our state might win.)

Round 2 Guidance and Application Process:

• General Information:

  Memorandum of Understanding

  Frequently Asked Questions (May 14)

  Webcast (Gov. Jim Doyle and State Supt. Tony Evers, May 10) Answers to Submitted Questions

• For most Wisconsin LEAs:

  Letter (May 6)

  Instructions for completing and submitting MOU

• For the "big six" school districts (Beloit, Green Bay, Kenosha, Madison, Milwaukee, and Racine):

  Letter (May 6)

  Instructions for completing and submitting MOU

  Exhibit II – Addressing WI’s Achievement Gap – Ensuring Every Child is Prepared for Success

Timeline:

• May 21, 2010 - Due date for local education agencies (LEAs) to submit signed MOUs to DPI
• June 1, 2010 - State applications for Round 2 due
• September 2010 - USDE will announce Round 2 award winners

Contacts:

• Jeff Pertl, Policy Advisor, Department of Public Instruction, (608) 267-9232
• Nina Carlson, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of the Governor, (608) 266-3271

Links and Resources:

• Wisconsin's Round 2 Race to the Top Application - submitted by Governor Jim Doyle, June 1, 2010
• Statement on Round 2 application - State Superintendent Tony Evers, July 27, 2010
• Wisconsin's Round 1 Application - submitted by Governor Jim Doyle, January 19, 2010
• Statement on Round 1 application - State Superintendent Tony Evers, March 4, 2010
• Information from USDE