BOSTON—Massachusetts, following a series of recent steps to improve low-performing schools across the state, has been awarded $250 million of the Obama administration's Race to the Top education grants to help states with innovative plans.
The U.S. Education Department said Tuesday that Massachusetts is among nine states and the District of Columbia to receive money as second-round winners of the competition. They share $3.4 billion. First-round winners Tennessee and Delaware got a total of $600 million.
States were rewarded for reforms intended to turn around low-performing schools through such things as better student testing and teacher accountability, and lifting caps on charter schools.
Gov. Deval Patrick, who met with Race to the Top decision makers this month in Washington, said the federal money will help the state to close its achievement gap and transform the lives of students.
"This is a momentous day for our students, our teachers and our future," he said. "And though our kids top the nation in student achievement, these resources will help us reach those we have not reached, the kids stuck in the achievement gap."
Patrick signed a bill in January to overhaul the state's education system by allowing for more charter schools in the state's lowest-performing school districts, which supporters touted as the boldest education reform effort since the state's 1993 education legislation. The 2010 legislation was also designed to help narrow the achievement gap between students from different economic backgrounds.
"We did not come up with these ideas to win the federal award," Patrick said. "We came up with these ideas for our children."
After losing out in the first round of grants, Massachusetts honed its application for the second round, when it was among 19 finalists. The state won first place this time around.
In July, the state adopted national standards for English and math curricula to boost its standing in the competition, which state Education Secretary Paul Reville said was a major factor in the state's improved finish.
Some critics argued that the state was accepting less rigorous standards in order to win federal money.
The state's updated proposal also outlined a new system to evaluate teacher and administrator effectiveness and included plans to ensure high poverty schools get good teachers and educators get what they need to help students excel.
Also, 276 school districts and charter schools signed a commitment to the state's application initiatives -- 20 more than in the first round.
Reville said 50 percent of the federal funding will go to school districts that submit plans for changes in troubled schools. Another 25 percent will be put toward new student assessment systems. The rest goes toward professional development and training for educators already on the payroll. Districts should receive the funding by October.
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said the grant will aid Boston's efforts to improve its schools. He joked he had U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan on speed dial to check on the state's chances for the funding.
"We should call this children's day in Massachusetts," he said.
U.S. Sen. John Kerry and state Senate President Therese Murray said the new funds will help the state continue as a leader in education.
"We just landed a quarter of a billion dollars for school reform and that's a very big deal for our kids, teachers, and principals," Kerry said.
Murray, who worked to pass the education reform bill along with House Speaker Robert DeLeo, said the state has an "ongoing commitment to always do the best for our schools and our students."
