Race to the Top
Select Illinois districts accelerate education reform under federal Race to the Top program
Thirty-seven districts raise the bar to improve student achievement
SPRINGFIELD—May 8, 2012—The Illinois State Board of Education announced the final 37 Illinois school districts that will join with the state agency as part of the federal Race to the Top (RTT) phase three program. These districts will serve as leaders by first implementing key initiatives aimed at improving school performance and student achievement across the state under the $42.8 million RTT grant awarded to Illinois and participating districts.
“These districts are moving forward with courage to change the status quo,” said State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch. “All of them are ready to accelerate reform efforts and share their experiences to help all our school districts succeed and better prepare students for college and careers in the 21st century.”
The federal grant is aimed broadly at closing achievement gaps. It will help bolster state initiatives across many areas. Funds will improve Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education and build a stronger connection to post-secondary education and training. Funds will also support the on-going implementation of the new rigorous Common Core Learning Standards in Math and English Language Arts as well as innovative data systems that better inform educators and improve classroom instruction. Chief among the reforms is that districts will use new, more comprehensive principal and teacher evaluations that tie student growth to educators’ reviews. Legislation calls for all Illinois districts to incorporate student growth into teacher evaluations no later than fall 2016. Participating Race to the Top districts, however, will be required to pilot these evaluation systems in the fall of 2013. Read more
Governor Quinn Announces Nearly $43 Million in Race to the Top Competition
Federal Funding Award to Advance K-12 Reforms, Improve Student Achievement and Boost Science Technology Engineering, Math (STEM) Learning Across Illinois
CHICAGO – December 23, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today announced Illinois earned a $42.8 million federal grant under the U.S. Department of Education’s Race to the Top (RTTT) program to help bolster Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) education across the state and other work to close the achievement gap. Half of those funds– about $21 million –will go directly to the state’s local districts that agree to accelerate education reform. Illinois is one of seven states in the nation to be awarded a portion of the $200 million in federal funds, which will be distributed through the 2013-14 school year to benefit K-12 students. Read more
