Pennsylvania's record of seven years of consecutive gains in student achievement gives the commonwealth a competitive edge in the federal competition for up to $400 million
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in federal "Race to the Top" funds, Governor Edward Rendell said today.
"With this federal grant, Pennsylvania will be able to double the rate of pace at which we achieve our goal of getting every student able to perform at grade level or better," Governor Rendell said.
The application the state submitted today includes signed agreements from 122 school districts and 69 charter schools, representing a diverse cross-section of students and many of Pennsylvania’s largest districts. These districts will get the lion’s share of the grant funds.
In addition, the application was supported by 154 organizations that endorse the proposal. The U.S. Department of Education indicated that the level of local support will be one of the key criteria for gauging the strength of each state's application.
The Race to the Top grant competition represents the largest discretionary funding effort for education reform ever made available by the federal government - $4.3 billion nationwide. The grants are competitive, and will go to states that can show the strongest strategies and coordinated commitments to reform.
"We think we have a terrific opportunity to secure these funds – and put them to good use for Pennsylvania’s students," Governor Rendell said. "We think our round-two application is stronger and even more persuasive than the one we submitted for the first round."
Only two states -- Tennessee and Delaware -- received awards in the first round of funding announced in March. Pennsylvania's application ranked seventh in the first round of funding, which bodes well for round two, the Governor said.
"We incorporated the feedback and comments we received on the first application, and lessons-learned from other states, and used it to make this application even stronger," Governor Rendell said.
Governor Rendell noted the progress the commonwealth has made over the last several years in measureable terms:
• 73 percent of all students in Pennsylvania are performing at grade level today (proficient and above), up from 51.5 percent in 2002.
• Pennsylvania reduced by 33 percent the number of students years behind – from 2002 to 2009.
"Race to the Top presents Pennsylvania with an historic opportunity to build on our progress to ensure that every one of our 1.8 million students graduate from our schools college- and career-ready," said Governor Rendell.
For more information on Pennsylvania’s Race to the Top Phase 2 application, CLICK HERE
Media contacts:
Gary Tuma, 717-783-1116
Leah Harris, 717-783-9802
Editor's Note: A list of school districts (SD) and charter schools (CS) that submitted Race to the Top memoranda of understanding follows:
Abington SD
Aliquippa SD
Allegheny Valley SD
Allentown City SD
Armstrong SD
Bald Eagle Area SD
Bangor Area SD
Bellwood-Antis SD
Bethlehem Area SD
Big Spring SD
Blacklick Valley SD
Bradford Area SD
Brockway Area SD
Burrell SD
Catasauqua Area SD
Central Bucks SD
Central Cambria SD
Central Greene SD
Central York SD
Chester-Upland SD
Chichester SD
Clairton City SD
Coatesville Area SD
Cornell SD
Crawford Central SD
Crestwood SD
Curwensville Area SD
Dallas SD
Derry Area SD (Westmoreland Co.)
Duquesne City SD
East Allegheny SD
East Lycoming SD
East Stroudsburg Area SD
Elizabeth Forward SD
Erie City SD
Fannett-Metal SD
Fort LeBoeuf SD
Frazier SD
Girard SD
Glendale SD
Greater Latrobe SD
Greensburg Salem SD
Harbor Creek SD
Harmony Area SD
Harrisburg City SD
Haverford Township SD
Hazleton Area SD
Hermitage SD
Hollidaysburg Area SD
Indiana Area SD
Interboro SD
Iroquois SD
Jeannette City SD
Jenkintown SD
Jim Thorpe Area SD
Kane Area SD
Kiski Area SD
Kutztown Area SD
Lancaster SD
Lebanon SD
Lehighton Area SD
Marple Newtown SD
McKeesport Area SD
Meyersdale Area SD
Midland Borough SD
Minersville Area SD
Mohawk Area SD
Monessen City SD
Montgomery Area SD
Montoursville Area SD
Morrisville Borough SD
Mount Union Area SD
Muhlenberg SD
New Brighton Area SD
New Kensington-Arnold SD
Norristown SD
North East SD
Northern Bedford County SD
Northern Cambria SD
Octorara Area SD
Oxford Area SD
Panther Valley SD
Penn Cambria SD
Penn Hills SD
Penncrest SD
Penn-Delco SD
Perkiomen Valley SD
Philadelphia City SD
Pittsburgh SD
Pittston Area SD
Pleasant Valley SD
Pottsgrove SD
Pottsville Area SD
Quaker Valley SD
Quakertown Community SD
Reading SD
Riverview SD
Salisbury-Elk Lick SD
Schuylkill Haven Area SD
Scranton SD
Sharon City SD
South Park SD
South Western SD
Southeast Delco SD
Southern York County SD
Spring Cove SD
Spring-Ford Area SD
Titusville Area SD
Turkeyfoot Valley Area SD
Tussey Mountain SD
Union City Area SD
Upper Darby SD
Upper Moreland Township SD
Warren County SD
Weatherly Area SD
West Allegheny SD
West York Area SD
William Penn SD
Williamsport Area SD
Wilson SD
Wissahickon SD
York City SD
Ad Prima CS
Alliance for Progress CS
Antonia Pantoja Community CS
Architecture and Design CHS
Bear Creek Community CS
Belmont Academy CS
Belmont CS
Boys Latin of Philadelphia CS
Center for Student Learning CS at Pennsbury
Chester Community CS
Christopher Columbus CS
Collegium CS
Commonwealth Connections Academy CS
Crispus Attucks Youthbuild CS
Delaware Valley CHS
Erin Dudley Forbes CS
Eugenio Maria de Hostos CS
First Phila CS for Literacy
Folk Arts-Cultural Treasures CS
Franklin Towne CES
Franklin Towne CHS
Freire CS
Global Leadership Academy CS
Graystone Academy CS
Green Woods CS
Hardy Williams Academy CS
Imani Education Circle CS
Independence CS
Khepera CS
KIPP Academy Charter School
KIPP West Philadelphia Preparatory Chart Laboratory CS
Lehigh Valley CHS for the Performing Arts
Lincoln CS
Lincoln Leadership Academy CS
Lincoln Park Performing Arts CS
Manchester Academic CS
Maritime Academy Charter School
MAST Community Charter School
Mastery Charter High School
Mastery CS--Pickett Campus
Mastery CS--Shoemaker Campus
Mastery CS--Thomas Campus
Montessori Regional CS
New Foundations CS
New Hope Academy CS
New Media Technology CS
Nueva Esperanza Academy CS
Pennsylvania Cyber CS
People for People CS
Philadelphia Harambee Inst CS
Philadelphia Performing Arts CS
Planet Abacus CS
Pocono Mountain Charter School
Propel CS-East
Propel CS-Homestead
Propel CS-McKeesport
Propel CS--Montour
Renaissance Acad-Edison CS
Roberto Clemente CS
Russell Byers CS
Sankofa Freedom Academy CS
Southwest Leadership Academy CS
Tacony Academy CS
Tuscarora Blended Learning CS
Universal Institute CS
Urban League of Pittsburgh CS
West Oak Lane CS
West Phila. Achievement CES
