Schools

South Brunswick Eligible for $18k in Race to the Top Funding

South Brunswick's grant allocation is just over $18,000, but accepting it would require the district to participate in certain portions of the state's Race to the Top plan.

The South Brunswick School District is among 372 school districts in New Jersey eligible for $19 million in Race to the Top grant funds, according to the state Department of Education.

South Brunswick is elgible to receive $18,005, but accepting the funding is contingent upon the district agreeing to participate in portions of the state’s Race to the Top plan.

Districts interested in the funds were required to sign a Memorandum of Understand by Feb. 17, though they are legally entitled to withdraw from the Race to the Top plans, according to the Department of Education. Grants were awarded based on a district’s typical share of Title I education funding.

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By withdrawing, a district would forfeit the Race to the Top funds.

New Jersey received a total of $38 million in Race to the Top funds during the third round of the grant funding. The remaining $19 million will be used to fund Gov. Chris Christie’s education reform agenda, according to the DOE. 

Find out what's happening in South Brunswickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

As part of its Race to the Top application, New Jersey selected four objectives in line with the administration’s education reform agenda, according to the DOE:

  1. Development of model curriculum and assessments for all core content subject areas to support the adoption of the Common Core State Standards
  2. Development and rollout of an online Instructional Improvement System (IIS) that will serve as a platform for teachers to access the model curriculum and other supports like formative assessments and instructional tools
  3. Implementation of the state’s new teacher evaluation system and the creation of a principal evaluation pilot program
  4. Expansion of high-quality school options by strengthening the Department’s charter authorizing practices

“We are glad to see that so many districts and charter schools have signed up to participate in the state’s reform agenda,” said Acting Commissioner Chris Cerf via release.  “These funds can be used for a number of purposes that will support student learning such as training for teachers on the new teacher evaluation system and the implementation of the Common Core State Standards.”


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