State Department News

IDAHO’S RACE TO THE TOP MOU IS NOW POSTED ONLINE
The State Department of Education has posted Idaho’s Race to the Top Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) online for school districts and public charter schools interested in participating in Idaho’s application for the federal grant.
Please visit the Department’s Race to the Top web site at http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/race/ to view or download the MOU. Race to the Top is a $4.35 billion fund that U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan created with discretionary dollars he received through the federal stimulus package. Through this fund, Secretary Duncan will award competitive grants to states to implement reforms and innovations. Idaho could receive an unprecedented grant of millions of dollars to invest in education reforms and innovations that will help raise student achievement. Superintendent Luna and representatives of the Idaho Education Association, Idaho School Boards Association, Idaho Association of School Administrators, Idaho State Superintendents’ Association, Office of the State Board of Education and Office of the Governor have been meeting since September to draft Idaho’s application for Race to the Top funds.

IEA Cold Hard Cash Awards – The Idaho Education Association is offering Cold Hard Cash awards for Idaho classrooms. The IEA will draw eight winners each month from September through May. Each winner will receive $50 to be used to upgrade his/her classroom. The entry form is available at idahoea.org/explore-iea/awards/cold-hard-cash. Just click on the "Cold Hard Cash" icon and submit your completed form. If your name is drawn, you will receive a check from IEA to use in your classroom. If you don’t win, your name will be placed in the drawing for the next month. Please note: Only "New Teachers” (those in their first through fifth year of teaching) are eligible to win.