Kansas Not Applying for Phase II of Race To The Top
TOPEKA—April 14, 2010—The Kansas Department of Education has decided not to reapply for Phase II of the Race To The Top Grant, as recommended by the Board of Education.
Kansas previously submitted an application for $166 million in Phase I, but was not selected as a finalist. Of the states that applied in Phase I, only those achieving a score of 400 or greater (possible 500) were selected as finalists. Kansas earned a score of 329.6, placing 29th out of 41 applicants. Delaware and Tennessee were announced as Phase I winners on March 29, 2010.
Dr. Diane M. DeBacker, Interim Commissioner of Education presented reviewer comments from Kansas’ Phase I application at the April Board meeting on Tuesday. After taking into consideration the reviewer comments, agency staff estimated a rewrite of the application could result in a possible increase of 82 points.
“Although the grant money would obviously be immensely helpful in achieving the goals we have set, the conditions are just not favorable for Kansas to reapply for the Race To The Top Grant,” remarked Board Chair Janet Waugh. “This is just one in a series of grants we’ll come across, and we look forward to the next grant that better fits our objectives.”
For those applying for Phase II Race To The Top Grants, applications are due June 1, 2010.
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