Districts waiting for Race to the Top funds

Local superintendents are awaiting notification of how recently awarded federal money will be divided among Kentucky school districts.

Kentucky received $17 million in Race to the Top money. Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey and Pennsylvania also received a portion of the $200 million that was awarded in the third round of Race to the Top.
Kentucky originally requested $175 million.

According to a news release, the Kentucky Department of Education will use the money to implement a reform mandated by Senate Bill 1 and expand AdvanceKentucky, which works to expand Advanced Placement courses.

Gary French, superintendent of Elizabethtown Independent Schools, said once the administration learns what the district will receive, it will assess the district’s needs and make a decision.

Nannette Johnston, superintendent of Hardin County Schools, said she hopes the money will go to training for teachers in the new standards for curriculum.

“You have to have that,” Johnston said.

At some trainings, larger districts only can send as many participants as smaller districts. But with larger districts, it takes “layer upon layer upon layer” to spread the training across the entire district, she said.

Kelly Cantrall can be reached at (270) 505-1747 or kcantrall@thenewsenterprise.com.