U.S. Department of Education Office of Communications & Outreach, Press Office 400 Maryland Ave., S.W. Washington, D.C.

20202 FOR RELEASE Friday, Aug. 31, 2012 CONTACT: Press Office 202-401-1576 or press@ed.gov NEARLY 900 INTENTS TO APPLY SUBMITTED FOR $400 MILLION RACE TO THE TOP-DISTRICT COMPETITION TO IMPLEMENT LOCAL REFORMS Potential Applicants Include 64 from Texas Today the U.S. Department of Education announced that 893 potential applicants have submitted their intent to apply for the 2012 Race to the Top-District program including 64 from Texas. The competition will provide close to $400 million to support local reforms that will personalize learning, close achievement gaps and prepare each student for college and their careers. The response follows the launch of the competition earlier this month. I believe the best ideas come from leaders at the local level, and the enthusiastic response to the Race to the Top-District competition highlights the excitement that districts have to engage in locally designed reforms that will directly improve student achievement and educator effectiveness, said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. We hope to build on this nationwide momentum by funding districts that have innovative plans to transform the learning environment, a clear vision for reform and a

track record of success. The Race to the Top-District competition invites applicants to demonstrate how they can personalize education for all students and is aimed squarely at classrooms and the all-important relationship between teachers and students. The competition will encourage transformative change within schools, providing school leaders and teachers with key tools and support in order to best meet their students needs. The Department has posted the list of those who have indicated their intent to apply on its website: www.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop-district. The list includes all those who submitted an intent to apply and does not indicate their eligibility for the competition. The intent to apply is not binding, and the information collected will be used by the Department primarily to develop an efficient process for reviewing grant applications. Potential applicants that did not submit an intent to apply may still apply for funding. The Department plans to support high-quality proposals from applicants across a variety of districts, including rural and nonrural districts as well as those already participating in a Race to the Top state grant and districts not participating. These 4-year awards will range from $5 million to $40 million, depending on the population of students served through the plan. The Department is expecting to make 15-25 awards. More information can be found at: www.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop-district. Applications are due Oct. 30, with awards being announced no later than Dec. 31, 2012. The list of potential applicants from Texas includes: Alief Montessori Community School

America Can dba Texans Can Academies Atlanta Independent School District Austin Independent School District Beaumont Independent School District Cedar Hill Independent School District Comal Independent School District Dallas Independent School District Denton Independent School District DeSoto Independent School District Ector County ISD Edcouch-Elsa Independent School District Edgewood Independent School District of San Antonio Edinburg Cons. Independent School District Detailed List of Potential Applicants: Education Service Center Region 18 Education Service Center Region 12 Education Service Center Region 20 El Paso ISD Flour Bluff ISD Frenship ISD Gainesville Independent School District Galveston Independent School District Harlandale Independent School District Harmony Public Schools Houston Independent School District IDEA Public Schools Irving ISD La Feria ISD La Marque ISD Lancaster ISD Longview ISD Lovejoy Independent School District Lovejoy ISD Lufkin ISD Manor Independent School District

Mathis ISD Mercedes ISD Mexia ISD Monte Alto Independent School District North Forest ISD Pasadena Independent School District Peers for Positive Change / Medina Valley Independent School District Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD Port Arthur Independent School District Raven School Region One Educational Service Center Region XIV Education Service Center Richardson ISD Rio Grande City Consolidated Independent School District San Benito Consolidated Independent School District Slaton ISD Spring Branch Independent School District Stephenville ISD Sulphur Springs Independent School District Tenaha Independent School District Texas Media Literacy Association United Independent School District Victoria ISD WALIPP-TSU Preparatory Academy Weslaco Independent School District Wylie ISD ###