DeGette Celebrates Colorado Being Named Race to the Top Phase 2 Finalist

Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-1) congratulated Colorado educators today as the state was announced as one of the 19 finalists for Phase 2 of the U.S. Department of Education's Race to the Top competition. Colorado was previously a finalist for Phase 1, completed in March. During Phase 2, an estimated $3.4 billion in education funding is available, and Colorado is eligible for up to $175 million of that total. Race to the Top funds were provided for under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"I'm pleased that Colorado has once again been named as a finalist for the Race to the Top program," said DeGette. "Colorado has long been at the forefront of education reform and this funding would support programs that better prepare our students for college, while rewarding and retaining our high achieving teachers and principals. Today's announcement recognizes our state as a driver of real and meaningful education reform, and one which can serve as a model for the rest of the nation. We look forward to seeing the diligence and innovative thinking of Colorado's educators rewarded in the coming months."

A delegation from Colorado will travel to Washington, DC in early August to present their proposal to the selection committee, and the winners will be notified in September.

For more information about Race to the Top: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/index.html