ARRA outreach.

ARRA outreach. Last week, the Department announced that 35 states and the Districtof Columbia submitted applications to be considered for Phase 2 of theRace to the Top competition. Race to the Top is the agency's $4.35billion fund to dramatically reshape America's educational systemto better engage and prepare students for success in the 21st centuryglobal economy and workplace. States' Phase 2 applications were dueto the Department by June 1 at 4:30 p.m. ET. The Department will select the Phase 2 winners over the summer,using the same process as Phase 1. During the panel review stage, fiveexpert reviewers will read and discuss each application. They will thenscore and comment on each application independently, and the applicantwill be given a score based on the average of the five scores. Finalists will be selected and invited to Washington, D.C., to makein-person presentations to their review panels. Each reviewer will thensubmit final scores, and the Secretary will select awardees. Dependingon the size of the winning states, 10 to 15 states could win Race to theTop grants.