The Grant Center Drafts APTS Comments on Race To The Top - District Grant Competition
June 7, 2012
In May 2012, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) released a notice inviting comments on the proposed priorities for a new Race to the Top – District grant competition. This program intended to mirror the popular Race to the Top (RTTT) program, would expand the eligibility requirements to include school districts or a consortia of school districts. Eligible districts would be required to address specific priorities pertaining to personalized learning environments, the student population served and location of district (i.e., rural). A competitive priority would be awarded based on the extent to which public and private resources are integrated to augment core school resources. APTS supports these changes but encourages the DOE to place a stronger emphasis on the use of digital content and resources.
In particular, APTS provided comments in the following three areas:
- Use of Digital Resources: Under the proposed priority, the DOE encourages districts to utilize digital learning content. APTS proposes changing the language from “including digital learning content as appropriate” to “including high-quality multiplatform digital content and services.” Districts should be required to implement high-quality multiplatform digital content and services to students and teachers, including embedding professional development into these resources.
- Definition of Digital Learning Content: The DOE defines digital learning content as “learning materials and resources that can be displayed on a digital device and shared electronically with other users. Digital learning content includes both open and/or commercial content.” APTS encourages the DOE to use more specificity by changing the term “digital learning content” to “high-quality multiplatform digital content and services.”
- Partnerships: Under the proposed priorities, DOE incentivizes partnerships. While APTS supports the inclusion of partnerships, nonprofit organizations should have a stronger role to play in the program. Our drafted comments propose amending the eligible applicant definition to include nonprofit organizations in partnerships with an LEA or consortium of LEAs, and list public media stations by name as potential partner organizations.
Due to the wealth of comments anticipated, the DOE does not plan to release an official response to the comments submitted. Instead, they will address and changes in the official RFP expected to be released in August 2012.
Read the comments in their entirety here.
Read the U.S. Department of Education’s Race To The Top – District Grant Competition proposed priorities.
