Education funding application races to D.C.
INDIANAPOLIS -- Gov. Mitch Daniels announced Friday that Indiana's application to the $4.35 billion Race to the Top federal grant program would soon be on its way to Washington.
The application includes a commitment to restructuring of Indiana's education system to evaluate teachers based in large part on student performance if Indiana receives a portion of the money. It also includes allocating funding to pay significant bonuses to well-performing teachers across the state, including those who work in schools where they are needed most.
"We are told Indiana's application is perhaps the boldest in America. I believe it's completely in the spirit ... to seek true reform," Daniels said.
Daniels said a full description of the application would be available next week.
The application is expected to be signed by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett early next week, and will then be sent to the U.S. Department of Education for consideration.
Indiana's application involves more than 90 percent participation, with more than 320 Indiana school corporations and public charter schools involved.
All 50 states were invited to compete for the funding by sending in applications to the Education Department.
The Race to the Top program would reward schools based on improvement in four areas including: adopting standards and assessments that prepare students for college and the workplace, recruiting, developing, rewarding and retaining effective teachers and principles, building data systems to measure student success and assisting low-performance schools.
Bennett said securing funding for Indiana’s education system would only increase the scope and speed of reform throughout the state.
“Our reform efforts already under way closely mirror the pillars of Race to the Top, because they have been crafted with the goals of increasing accountability, freedom and competition in our schools to increase students’ academic achievement,” Bennett said.
“Few states are as well-positioned as Indiana to receive this historic funding, and participating LEAs [Local Education Agencies] could receive the financial and strategic support necessary to implement key education reforms.”
For video of Friday’s press conference, visit
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