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Gov. Gregoire announces leadership team to compete for federal education dollars

For Immediate Release: July 31, 2009

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced that she has asked Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn and Washington State Board of Education Chair Mary Jean Ryan to join her as co-chairs of the leadership team charged with ensuring Washington state receives a Race to the Top federal grant. The Obama Administration is requiring each grant submittal be signed by the state�s governor, state superintendent and education board chair.

�I have asked Randy and Mary Jean to join forces with me to develop our state's Race to the Top grant proposal and coordinate other state efforts that would support a successful grant application,� Gregoire said. �It is clear from my conversations with the Obama administration that successful states will pull together every resource available, and provide a comprehensive proposal.�

Gregoire�s decision follows the announcement earlier this week by the U.S. Department of Education of the draft regulations specifying issues states need to address to qualify for the federal education dollars. States will be competing for $4 billion in Race to the Top grants.

�I want to do everything we can to be strong competitors for this funding. It�s not going to be easy, and will require a lot of work from many individuals,� Gregoire said. �We will work closely with those who work in K-12 schools, and other citizens who care deeply about education in our state. Washington is blessed to have professional organizations, school districts, educators, parents, supporters from the private sector, as well as other governmental and non-governmental groups which contribute daily to student success. We will need all of them in this effort.�

The most well-positioned states to receive the federal grants will have demonstrated proven methods to improve student learning by focusing efforts in four key areas. Those key areas are using quality standards and assessments, supporting effective instruction and leadership, using data to link achievement, programs and practices, and focusing on low-performing schools.

�It is critically important that Washington state do everything it can to qualify for this grant, and build upon the successes we�ve already achieved in our K-12 schools,� Dorn said. �I commend Governor Gregoire for pulling together a leadership team to compete for these federal dollars, and pledge to do all I can to earn a Race to the Top grant.�

��Race to the Top� is a race well worth entering,� Ryan said. �The students of Washington stand to gain greatly if we successfully compete on their behalf. The Obama Administration has set a high bar- and rightly so. The future of our nation depends on our ability to raise educational attainment and eliminate achievement gaps. Let's race!�