Rhode Island is One of Ten Winners in Phase 2 of "Race to the Top"

Rhode Island has had a year full of controversy including a firing of all teachers in an underachieving school system Central Falls. So controversial it grabbed national headlines and even the attention of the President. So it was not hard to imagine that Rhode Island would put in a bid for the governments "Race to the Top" competition in which 12 states win money to help their education program. Delaware and Tennessee were early winners in Phase 1.

In order to win the money, the states must show a plan for the money. There is an application process and it is not as easy as it sounds. States hoping to win the money go through a rigorous process. Part of that process is to ensure that the money goes to what it is intended for, helping the children of that state obtain a stellar education.

Rhode Island is one of the 10 winners in Phase 2. The other winners from the second phase included the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina and Ohio.

Rhode Island can use up to $75 million dollars to achieve their plans. Each states applications and plans can be found on the governments website. Rhode Island's application is 377 long pages of a lot of detailed information on their plans to help the state achieve a level of education reform that it could have never expected without this money.

There were 36 applicants in Phase 2. In part of their application, the state will take $37.5 million and then dish out the other $37.5 million for the school districts themselves. All in all this is a win/win for all school districts in Rhode Island and the children that live in the state.

In their announcement the government said if there were more funds there clearly would have been more winners given that the quality of applications was so high. So Rhode Island being a winner is quite the accomplishment given the level of competition. The smallest state in the Union now has a mighty force on the side of education in the state MONEY

http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/index.html