The Colorado Department of Education learned Wednesday that the state is in the running for $17.9 million in the latest try for federal Race to the Top funds — almost $5 million more than predicted.
Colorado was one of seven states that successfully completed an application for a round of Race to the Top set aside for finalists that didn’t receive money in the second round.
This is Colorado’s fourth application for the federal pool of money.
Nine states were eligible in this round, competing for a share of $200 million provided by Congress.
Of those nine states, South Carolina opted out and California submitted an incomplete application.
Because the grants are smaller than in the first two rounds, the original Race to the Top applications had to be updated to limit the scope, but the main projects could not be new ideas.
Colorado chose to focus on two projects: implementation of new state standards and of educator- evaluation systems.
“We are already implementing these with minimum funds,” said Jill Hawley, the CDE’s chief of staff and strategy. “So we see this as a tremendous opportunity to ramp up our support during the heavy lifting of the implementation, and they are temporary needs.”
As the application deadline neared, the U.S. Education Department also required applicants to show how the money could also support improvements in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, education.
Colorado’s application already included the intent to develop instructional and assessment tools for 10 content areas, including STEM subjects.
States have until Dec. 16 to complete their applications with a detailed narrative and proposed budget.
In October, Colorado also submitted an application for a different slice of Race to the Top funds for an early-education challenge. If awarded that grant, Colorado may receive $60 million to advance early-literacy initiatives in the state.
Both awards will be announced in late December.
Yesenia Robles: 303-954-1372 or yrobles@denverpost.com
