More Iowa schools apply for federal reform aid

DES MOINES – Two-thirds of Iowa's 362 school districts have signed up to participate in national reform efforts designed to spur educational innovation.

Gov. Chet Culver announced Tuesday that Iowa has submitted its application for the second round of federal Race to the Top education funding. Iowa is applying for up to $175 million, the maximum amount it is eligible to receive in the second application round.

A total of 246 school districts, or 68 percent, signed on to participate in reform efforts outlined in Iowa's second application for Race to the Top grant money – that was up from 221 districts participating in the state's first application in January. Iowa was not selected for any awards in the first round.

Only one of Iowa's eight largest school districts participated in the first round of applications, but this time all eight of those districts signed on to the state's current Race to the Top application.

School districts participating in Iowa's Race to the Top application serve more than 73 percent of state's K-12 public school population, up from just 47 percent in the first application in January, according to state officials. Those districts also serve 79 percent of Iowa students living in poverty, a key priority of the Race to the Top program.

“Thanks to the many school districts and unions that have joined our effort, Iowa is in a strong position to compete for hundreds of millions of dollars in Race to the Top funding for our K-12 schools,” Culver said in a statement.

“We are excited to qualify for $175 million in federal funds for our schools so we can make sure they have the resources they need without raising property taxes on hard-working Iowa families,” he added. “Our application is critical to education reform in our state and moving Iowa forward.”

Culver noted that three out of four, or 181, of the local teacher associations at school districts that have signed on to Iowa's Race to the Top application have endorsed the effort.

The Race to the Top fund is a competitive federal grant program designed to encourage and reward states that are creating the conditions for education innovation and reform. That includes achieving significant improvement in student outcomes by making substantial gains in student achievement, closing achievement gaps, improving high school graduation rates, and ensuring student preparation for success in college and careers.

A portion of any funding that Iowa receives will go directly to Iowa school districts. If Iowa receives Race to the Top funds, each Iowa school district that signed on to participate will receive a minimum of $60,000 to support the reform work. Additional funding also would be provided to districts that want to participate in specific projects or areas of work.

Only Delaware and Tennessee were awarded funds in the first round of Race to the Top funding in January. The U.S. Department of Education is expected to announce second round winners in late August or early September.