WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield, (KY-01), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power, announced today that the Green River Regional Educational Cooperative was named by the U.S. Department of Education a winner in the Race to the Top-District Competition.

 “Students that fall within the Green River Regional Educational Cooperative will certainly benefit from the foresight and innovation exemplified by the educators, parents and community partners who outlined a winning strategy for better educating our children,” Whitfield said.  “I congratulate all involved for providing a winning strategy that will benefit the students in this region for years to come.”   

The 2012 Race to the Top-District grantees will receive four-year awards that range from $10 million to $40 million, depending on the number of students served through the plan. The winning applicants were the top scorers among the 372 applications the Education Department received in November, which were evaluated and scored by independent peer reviewers.

The Race to the Top-District competition supports classroom-level reform efforts that encourage transformative change within schools. Applicants from all districts were invited to demonstrate how they can personalize education for all students and provide school leaders and teachers with tools that help them best meet their students’ needs. In developing their plans, districts collaborated with educators, parents, and both public and private organizational leaders to ensure their vision was supported by key community stakeholders.

Race to the Top-District plans are tailored to meet the needs of local communities and feature a variety of strategies, including: using technology to personalize learning for each student; giving students opportunities to learn beyond the traditional school day and environment; supporting students’ transitions throughout their education, including from high school to college and careers; expanding partnerships with community organizations to provide students with targeted social services like crisis intervention, individual counseling and life enrichment opportunities; and providing professional development and coursework options to deepen learning in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.

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