Dozen Applications Put NJ Schools in the Running for ‘Race to the Top’ Grants

While applications submitted by Newark and Paterson public schools got the headlines, another 10 New Jersey applications were also filed for federal Race to the Top funds, including two from charter operators.

The 12 applications filed by Thursday’s deadline sought federal grants ranging from $5 million to $30 million to bolster “personalized learning,” with a big emphasis on technological improvements.

Newark and Paterson were the two largest school districts to apply this year. In each case, however, the teachers unions in those state-operated districts refused to support the proposals, all but disqualifying the applications since the rules require union support.

With less attention -- and apparently with support from their teachers -- 10 other applications were submitted statewide, including large and small districts, urban and suburban.

One application was submitted by four Monmouth County districts that were finalists last year, missing out in reviewers’ scorecards by just seven points on a scale to 210.

Read more at NJSpotlight.com