NEWS RELEASE

Release Date: December 18, 2009

Contact: Pete Smith, Director of Communications 601.359.1336

Mississippi to apply for competitive Race To The Top funds in June

Jackson, Miss. - As a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), the federal government has created Race To The Top (RTTT), a new program that will allow eligible states to compete for $4.35 billion in competitive grants to help lead education reform and innovation in classrooms. Mississippi has a competitive chance to be awarded between $60 million and $175 million over a four-year period for schools and districts.

RTTT grants center around four categories of funding:

• Adopting internationally benchmarked standards and assessments that prepare students for success in college and the workplace;
• Recruiting, developing, rewarding, and retaining 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 our lowest-performing schools

“With the passage of the Children First Act of 2009, Mississippi is in a very unique position and we have a great story to communicate when applying for RTTT funds,” newly appointed State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tom Burnham said.

RTTT competitive grants will be awarded in two phases. The first phase application deadline is January 19, 2010 with award announcements in April 2010 and the second phase application is due June 1, 2010 and the awards will be announced in September 2010.

Mississippi Department of Education staff recently attended a RTTT technical meeting in Baltimore, MD and learned that states applying for RTTT grants are not at a competitive disadvantage when applying in either phase. PEER reviewers from across the country will judge each state’s application based on its own merit.

The Department of Education created a 34- member RTTT advisory committee in October. Members of the committee represent the governor’s office, education leaders (K-12 - Higher Education), grass roots and community organization leaders and leaders in private and non-profit business. The next meeting of the RTTT advisory committee will be in January 2010.