Mass. wins $250M federal education grant

The U.S. Department of Education announced yesterday that Massachusetts has won a $250 million grant, to be spent over the next four years, to continue and accelerate improvements to local schools, particularly low-performing schools.

Massachusetts was one of nine states plus the District of Columbia to win a share of $3.3 billion in the second round of Race to the Top grants authorized as part of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The state’s successful grant application was based largely on the education reform law signed by the governor last January, which included provisions to speed improvements in failing and struggling schools and to close achievement gaps.

• Link to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for the state’s application and a preliminary list of allocations for participating districts

• Link to Executive Office of Education for press release about Race to the Top grant