It's time to stop just talking about education reform and start actually doing it. It's time to make education America's national mission.
– President Barack Obama, November 4, 2009

BACKGROUND

On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), historic legislation designed to stimulate the economy, support job creation, and invest in critical sectors, including education. The ARRA lays the foundation for education reform by supporting investments in innovative strategies that are most likely to lead to improved results for students, long-term gains in school and school system capacity, and increased productivity and effectiveness.
The ARRA provides $4.35 billion for the Race to the Top Fund, a competitive grant program designed to encourage and reward States that are creating the conditions for education innovation and reform; achieving significant improvement in student outcomes, including making substantial gains in student achievement, closing achievement gaps, improving high school graduation rates, and ensuring student preparation for success in college and careers; and implementing ambitious plans in four core education reform areas:

• Adopting standards and assessments that prepare students to succeed in college and the workplace and to compete in the global economy;

• Building data systems that measure student growth and success, and inform teachers and principals about how they can improve instruction;

• Recruiting, developing, rewarding, and retaining effective teachers and principals, especially where they are needed most; and

• Turning around our lowest-achieving schools.

Race to the Top will reward States that have demonstrated success in raising student achievement and have the best plans to accelerate their reforms in the future. These States will offer models for others to follow and will spread the best reform ideas across their States, and across the country.

Purpose

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provides approximately $4.3 billion for a competitive Race to the Top (RttT) grant program to encourage and reward States that are:
- creating the conditions for education innovation and reform
- Implementing ambitious plans in the four education reform areas described in ARRA:
1. Adopting internationally benchmarked standards and assessments that prepare students for success in college and the workplace;

2. Recruiting, developing, retaining, and rewarding effective teachers and principals;

3. Building data systems that measure student success and inform teachers and principals how they can improve their practices.

4. Turning around America’s lowest‐performing schools
- Achieving significant improvement in student outcomes, including making substantial gains in student achievement, closing achievement gaps, improving high school graduation rates, and ensuring student preparation for success in college and careers.

Vision of the Race to the Top Program

Promoting Innovation, Reform, and Excellence in America’s Public Schools
In July, 2009, President Obama issued a national challenge to reshape America’s educational system to better engage and prepare our students for success in a competitive 21st century economy and workplace. Designed to incentivize excellence, spur reform, and promote the adoption and use of effective policies and practices, the Race to the Top is a comprehensive vision for school reform backed by a historic, $4.35 billion investment.

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