Race to the Top-District was
authorized under Title III of Division F of P.L. 112-74, the
"Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012", Dec. 23, 2011. Race to the
Top-District is a competitive grant program that will support local
educational agencies (LEAs) in the development and implementation
of strategies, structures, and systems to increase personalized
learning environment(s), that are designed to significantly improve
teaching and learning through the personalization of strategies,
tools, and supports for teachers and students that are aligned with
college- and career-ready standards; increase the effectiveness of
educators, and expand student access to the most effective
educators in order to raise student achievement; decrease the
achievement gap across student groups; and increase the rates at
which students graduate from high school prepared for college and
careers.
This is a revision to a
collection for an existing program. In the previous fiscal year (FY
2012) the Race to the Top District competition generated
significant interest from school districts, as 1,225 local
educational agencies were part of 372 submitted applications. In FY
2013 we expect interest to subside slightly and anticipate 300
applications. In addition, the only substantive changes to the
application are the exclusion of the optional budget supplement,
selection criterion (B)(5), and selection criterion (E)(4), which
decreases the burden per application from 238 to 225, for a total
of 67,500 burden hours. In total we expect 72 fewer applications
and 21,036 less burden hours than the FY 2012 Race to the Top
District competition.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.