Congressman Hoyer Announces Major Education Reform Grant for Maryland
State Awarded $250 Million as Part of "Race to the Top" Program WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) released the following statement today after Maryland was chosen as a winner of the "Race to the Top" program, a significant federal investment in education reform sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. The state will receive $250 million to improve its school system. "In awarding this grant, the U.S. Department of Education and panel of expert reviewers recognized Maryland's long history of educational excellence and the state's commitment to implementing reforms that will benefit students and families," stated Congressman Hoyer. "Investing in education has long been a priority in our state and winning this competition shows that we are strongly committed to providing all students with opportunities for success." "While Maryland is home to the best public schools in the nation, the state remains committed to principles of reform that will further strengthen the public education system and serve as a model for other states to follow in the future," continued Hoyer. "This funding will help Maryland build on the great strides in student achievement seen in recent years and revise accountability standards, improve classroom technology and help provide resources and support to transform low-achieving schools and districts. I congratulate all of those who worked hard to secure this vital funding for our state." The Race to the Top competition is a groundbreaking education reform program that will directly impact 13.6 million students and 980,000 teachers in 25,000 schools nationwide. The competition is designed to reward states that are leading the way in comprehensive, coherent, statewide education reform across four key areas:
For more information on the Race to the Top program, click here. ### |