Federal officials recently selected New York as a winner of the Race to the Top initiative. The state, which was one of 10 to be awarded funding during the program’s second phase, will have access to $700 million to provide new learning opportunities for schools within its borders.
The education program is designed to empower states that have introduced education reforms that federal leaders believe will improve schools.
“New York’s schools have made strong strides towards excellence and this grant will accelerate that progress,” said Senator Chuck Schumer. “This is great news for parents, teachers and taxpayers across the state.”
During the summer, many schools have allocated federal funding award for technology upgrades as a way of offering students a more interactive learning experience. Educators have found that connecting laptops and other new digital equipment to an HDTV, LED monitor or
DLP projector can create an atmosphere in which students feel more excited to participate.
After missing out on the program’s first round of funding, the state recently rose the charter school cap from 200 to 460 to show their willingness to meet federal expectations. The Race to the Top initiative is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
