Summary
On May 25, 2011, the Department of Education (ED) announced its plan for the $700 million included in the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 (P.L. 112-10) for Race to the Top (RTT) and early learning education. ED announced that it would provide $500 million for the new Early Learning Challenge Fund (ELCF), which will fund competitive grants to states to promote early childhood learning. The remaining $200 million will fund a third round of RTT programs in states that were finalists, but did not receive funds, under phase 2 of the program.
This Issue Brief provides background on RTT, as well as further details about the new ELCF and RTT competitions.