Kentucky consortium of school districts awarded $40 million in Race to the Top grants

A group of 35 districts in southwestern Kentucky snared $40 million in federal Race to the Top money in the district competition, according to a list published online late Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Education.

The Green River Regional Educational Cooperative will share the grant money among the 35 districts that are spread over 26 counties.

It was one of 16 districts awarded a piece of $400 million in the latest round of the grant competition, in which the U.S. Department of Education encourages innovation and rewards districts that meet certain criteria.

According to the cooperative’s scores, the group did well in preparing students for college and careers.

“The establishment of a Career Center was identified as an integral component of this plan. Also, a focus on poverty issues for teachers will create a better understanding of the impact on academic and social development,” the scoring document said.

The scoring document also said the consortium wants to use the money to provide more training for daycare and preschool instructors.