Tennessee Awarded $500 Million in Education Funding

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Tennessee’s delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives expressed support and congratulations following the Department of Education’s announcement that Tennessee has been selected as a winner of the Race to the Top funding program.

Tennessee will receive a grant of approximately $500 million in federal funding to implement reforms and turn around underperforming schools.

In a January 11th letter to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, the delegation members wrote, “We are writing in strong support of the Tennessee Department of Education's application for the Race to the Top Assessment Program. In utilizing these federal funds, Tennessee seeks to capitalize on its assets - a rich pool of data, a plan for revamped standards and assessments, increasing collaboration with high-tech firms and facilities, and an expanded charter school system. Tennessee's RTTT proposal builds upon these assets and will accelerate reforms necessary to support educational achievement and excellence.”

Forty states and the District of Columbia submitted proposals for RTTT funding in January. The Department of Education rated each state based on its ability to adopt challenging standards that prepare students for college and their careers, adequately measure student achievement and inform faculty of the best way to improve teaching methods, recruit and retain the best teachers, and turn around the lowest performing schools.

The Department of Education awarded additional points to applications that highlighted effective management of student data, emphasis on science and math education, and strong partnerships with universities and private firms.

Tennessee and Delaware were the only two states to be awarded funding in the first round of the application process.