Louisiana's Race to the Top Plan

In December 2011, Louisiana was awarded a $17.4 million Race to the Top (R2T) grant by the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE).  Race to the Top was authorized through the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and was designed to encourage states to adopt aggressive reforms and place an emphasis on enriching Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) initiatives.

Louisiana’s Race to the Top plan addresses standards and assessments, the collection and use of data, school turnaround strategies, and effective support for teachers and school leaders. The four-year plan also outlines strategies to enhance the state’s current STEM program.

Reform activities already underway and detailed in the state’s R2T application include the implementation of Act 54 and the state’s adoption and transition to Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and CCSS-Aligned Assessments.

In Louisiana, 20 districts and 28 charter schools signed on as Participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs).  And while Participating LEAs will receive flow-through dollars, Louisiana’s plan is designed to ensure all students benefit from the federal grant.