On January 11, the East Baton Rouge Parish School System (EBRPSS) threw its hat into the ring with other school districts across Louisiana in applying to participate in Race to the Top.  In turn, the State Department of Education met the national deadline of January 19 to apply for a share of about $300 million from the total $4.35 billion in federal funds. 

The U.S. Department of Education’s Race to the Top Fund was created to support state efforts through a competition for funds to improve student learning.  It is composed of grants focusing on four reforms: using data to inform instruction, raising standards, turning around historically low-performing schools and improving teacher and principal quality.

In all, 28 school districts and more than 50 charter schools across the state applied to participate in the program.  Participation in Race to the Top is voluntary, both at the state and local levels.  Louisiana’s participation could directly impact 48 percent of the state’s total student population and 52 percent of the state’s total free and reduced-price meal population.  States chosen will split the federal funding after an announcement in April, and then funding trickles down to school districts in each state who are participating in Race to the Top. 

Participating school districts will be required to commit to certain initiatives under the state’s Race to the Top plan, including:  new evaluation procedures for teachers and school site leaders with 50 percent of the evaluation weight based on the academic achievement of students, an outline of specific goals/budgets/targets for key performance measures and a plan on how other federal, state and local funds will be used to support Race to the Top activities.