Press Release - Race to the Top Team
OFFICE OF LT. GOV. BARBARA O'BRIEN
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
CONTACT:
Ellen Dumm, 303 866-6361 (office), 303 829-0194 (cell), ellen.dumm@state.co.us
LT. GOV. O'BRIEN ASSEMBLING A RACE TO THE TOP TEAM
Lt. Gov. Barbara O'Brien wants a team of innovators to help Colorado prepare its bid for an estimated $500 million in Race to the Top federal education grant funds. She says the effort will require a wide array of people who can ensure that Colorado submits the best application in the country for the competitive funding, which is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
An initial meeting to begin creating the team and preparing the application will be held April 27.
Lt. Gov. O'Brien was among top educators, legislators and community leaders who met with U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan in Denver this morning. Gov. Bill Ritter has asked that Lt. Gov. O'Brien spearhead the effort to put together the proposal for Race to the Top funds that will be awarded to top-tier states.
"It's clear that Secretary Duncan would like innovation to come from the states and the individual school districts," Lt. Gov. O'Brien said. "This cannot be a piecemeal approach. We need a bold set of strategies to be successful in our efforts to build an improved education system in Colorado. That means getting people to the table who may not always agree but will have to trust each other to move education into the future."
States will compete for $4.35 billion in Race to the Top funds by writing proposals that addresses improvement to low-income and at-risk students, recruiting and retaining teachers, a more equitable distribution of teachers, better use of data, and greater accountability for student achievement in all facets of the education system.
"I am looking forward to working closely with the many legislators who are dedicated to making Colorado's education system one of the best in the country," said Lt. Gov. O'Brien.
The proposals are due in the fall and the top eight to 10 states will share the funds starting in 2010.
Gov. Ritter, Lt. Gov. O'Brien and Commissioner of Education Dwight Jones are inviting educators, elected officials, foundations, community leaders and other interested stakeholders to an informational meeting on the Race to the Top proposal from 8 to 9:30 a.m. April 27 at St. Cajetan's, 900 Auraria Parkway, Denver. Interested participants should RSVP to Tyler Lyons in the Lt. Governor's Office at: tyler.lyons@state.co.us.