DC Schools to Share $75 Million in Federal Race to the Top Grants
Contact: Audrey Williams 202-328-2748
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[email protected]
Washington, D.C. — The District of Columbia is one of ten winners of the Race to the Top grants from the U.S. Department of Education. D.C. charter schools and DCPS will share the $75 million grant with charter schools getting about $12 million. Charter schools are also eligible for an additional $15 million in competitive and indirect funding. This grant will continue school reform efforts that will ensure high-quality education options for D.C. students. The Race to the Top competition is part of President Obama’s $4 billion investment in education that’s designed to reward states that are leading the way in comprehensive, statewide education reform.
The award is the result of a joint application submitted by D.C. public charter schools, DCPS, OSSE and the State Board of Education. D.C. is one of 19 applicants in the second round of the competition.
“This is exciting to be able to get this grant and it is gratifying to know that the funding will help schools as they work to become high-achieving schools,” said Josephine Baker, executive director of the DC Public Charter School Board. “Without this collaborative effort with DCPS, OSSE and the State Board of Education, we could not have been successful.”
The DC Public Charter School Board currently overseas 52 public charter schools on 96 campuses serving approximately 28,000 students living in every ward of the city. Public charter schools now serve 38% of all public school students in Washington, DC.
Click to see DC's Race to the Top Application: application and appendix