KIPP DC a finalist in Race to the Top competition
by Emma Brown
Charter school operator KIPP DC is one of 61 finalists in the federal government’s $400 million Race to the Top-District grant competition, U.S. Department of Education officials announced Monday.
“We’re very excited,” said Susan Schaeffler, KIPP DC’s chief executive. “This was a heavy lift for all of us to get this application done, make it meaningful — and at this point we’re really excited to be in the top 61.”
The finalists were selected from among more than 350 traditional school systems and charter-school networks that applied for grants ranging from $5 million to $40 million. The Obama administration is offering the money to applicants who develop promising plans to personalize student learning, boost achievement and improve teacher and principal effectiveness.
KIPP DC, which operates 10 charter schools across Washington, is seeking $10 million, mostly to expand the Capital Teacher Residency, a
