Education Funding

Race to Top Winners Could Get More Time to Finish Up

By Michele McNeil — March 26, 2013 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

The U.S. Department of Education will consider, on a case-by-case basis, granting the original 12 Race to the Top winners an extra year to finish their work.

Next school year was set to be the fourth and last year for the Race to the Top program, the $4 billion education redesign competition for states financed under the economic-stimulus package passed by Congress in 2009. But delays have plagued many winning states as they seek to make good on their promises, and states have been slow to spend their money.

More than three years into the grants, the dozen winners— 11 states and the District of Columbia—have used less than half their money, Education Department records show.

The department will consider “no-cost extensions"—meaning states won’t get any additional money to finish their plans, just extra time—between now and January.

Federal officials will consider the one-year extensions on a project-by-project basis and won’t give states blanket approval to take more time on all parts of their plans. States would have until July 1, 2015, to spend their money (versus summer 2014).

No-cost extensions are customary with federal grants, and the Education Department had said that it would consider them at a later date—which has now arrived.

Department officials say they will not grant significant deadline extensions—such as delaying implementation of a state’s new teacher-evaluation system—without a strong rationale.

“We are still trying to hold them accountable to their commitments,” Ann Whalen, who oversees Race to the Top for the department, said of the grant winners. “But we don’t want them sitting on the money either.”

Recent reports by the department show states are struggling, in particular, with upgrading and building new data systems and implementing teacher-evaluation systems.

But the most pronounced reason states need more time, Ms. Whalen said, is that “comprehensive reform is difficult work.” The extension policy, she said, “gives them more time.”

Even with a fifth possible year for states to finish their work, one firm deadline remains: Any unspent money reverts to the Treasury on Oct. 1, 2015.

A version of this article appeared in the March 27, 2013 edition of Education Week as Extra Time Weighed for 12 RTT Winners

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Science Webinar
Making Science Stick: The Engaging Power of Hands-On Learning
How can you make science class the highlight of your students’ day while
achieving learning outcomes? Find out in this session.
Content provided by LEGO Education
Teaching Profession Webinar Key Insights to Elevate and Inspire Today’s Teachers
Join this free half day virtual event to energize your teaching and cultivate a positive learning experience for students.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Student Achievement Webinar
Student Success Strategies: Flexibility, Recovery & More
Join us for Student Success Strategies to explore flexibility, credit recovery & more. Learn how districts keep students on track.
Content provided by Pearson

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Funding Will Trump Follow Through on His Threats to Cut School Funding?
If the administration follows the law and established precedent, the road won’t be easy.
8 min read
Image of puzzle pieces representing gender and inclusion.
iStock/Getty
Education Funding How Schools Are Feeling Trump's Spending Cuts
Electric school buses and teacher-preparation programs are among the victims of funding cuts.
7 min read
Image of financial support being cut.
milo827/iStock/Getty
Education Funding Does Money Matter for Schools? NAEP Scores Reopen the Debate
A provocative set of graphs has kicked off a debate over whether—and how—more money can improve student outcomes.
11 min read
Contemporary art collage. One hand holding graduation cap, other - stack of coins. Finical aid for education, investment in knowledge. Concept of financial literacy, success, study loan, school credit
iStock/Getty Images
Education Funding Dozens of Head Start Programs Still Aren't Receiving Promised Federal Funds
Some providers of pre-K and child care have waited more than a week for federal reimbursements that typically arrive in 24 hours.
11 min read
Two 5 year old children sitting at a table in preschool playing with colorful toys. The boy is connecting flexible tubes, and his friend, a girl, is wearing a crown made of tubes her head.
E+/Getty