You can play a role in ensuring Washington submits a bold and innovative Race to the Top application.

Right now, we urge all school districts across the state to participate in Washington’s Race to the Top proposal by signing the application’s Partnership Agreement. Districts must return the Partnership Agreement to the state by May 17.

We also strongly urge districts to participate in the Innovation Clusters featured in the state’s Race to the Top application. These Innovation Clusters are vitally important to Washington’s application because they incentivize the reforms and innovations necessary to make Washington more competitive for federal funding. Designed to provide districts additional assistance to implement targeted reforms, Innovation Clusters are focused on four key areas:

• Improving teacher and leader effectiveness
• Strengthening STEM education and achievement
• Improving college and career readiness and closing the achievement gap
• Turning around the lowest-performing schools

The more support we have from school districts, and the more districts participate in the Innovation Clusters’ bold reforms, the better chance we have of increasing student achievement, closing the achievement gap and receiving $250 million from the federal government.

Please help Washington race to the top by calling the Superintendent or school board members in your school district and urging them to participate in Race to the Top and join the Innovation Clusters. It’s the right thing for our students and state. To find the contact information for your district's leadership, please view this list.

Together, we can create real change and build a future for Washington state students. Let’s not miss this important opportunity for accelerating our education reform efforts. For more information about the Washington’s Race to the Top application, visit www.waracetothetop.com.