N.C. schools win grant

North Carolina public schools will be receiving much-needed funds after winning a competitive federal grant.

The U.S. Department of Education announced the state, along with eight others and the District of Columbia, as winners of the Race to the Top challenge.

Through this grant, K-12 public schools will receive up to $400 million in federal funding — the maximum amount allowed for the state’s population.

About 1.4 million students, half of whom are economically disadvantaged, will benefit from the grant.

North Carolina was one of 19 finalists in the running for a share of the $3.4 billion Race to the Top fund.

The grant money will improve low-performing schools and bring new technology to schools statewide, said Chris Mackey, press secretary for Gov. Bev Perdue.

She said it will also help to recruit and retain qualified teachers and administrators, curbing a potential future shortage of educators in the state.

“Making sure we can get students career and college ready is our biggest priority,” Mackey said.

The Race to the Top grant awarded funding based on states’ plans to reform student assessment and preparedness, educator recruitment and retainment and turnaround for low-performing schools.

After losing in the first round’s competition, the state used its evaluaton to improve its application. They added national curriculum standards and a new charter school law to gain points.

According to their application, North Carolina is hoping to raise low-performing schools’ graduation rates by creating a new curriculum for all subjects and grades.

Schools will also reform the way they measure student achievement. Future tests will depend less on standardized testing and focus more on open-ended questions and technology, said Vanessa Jeter, spokeswoman for the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.

“We already have a really strong track record of public school innovation,” she said. “The Race to the Top grant money will strengthen that work.”

The state was the first with end-of-year tests and a teacher evaluation system in line with school accountability assessments, Jeter said.

“We have proven we have a strong infrastructure for delivery and reform,” she said.

All 115 local education agencies in North Carolina are cooperating with the state’s plans for the grant.

“North Carolina’s children today are one step closer to being guaranteed the best public education possible — something every child deserves,” said Gov. Bev Perdue in a statement.

Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.