Pennsylvania Submits Round Two Federal 'Race to the Top' Application for $400 Million in Education Improvement Funding

Additional Funds Would Accelerate Commonwealth's Progress in Education

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 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 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 measurable 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, visit: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/rttt/17696/rttt/613085.

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

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor