Dive Summary:

• The U.S. Education Department announced Aug. 31 that 893 school districts have applied to participate in the Race to the Top-District competition, which involves close to $400 million in grants.
• The new competition encourages districts to reform learning environments to match college and career-ready standards, increase student achievement and expand access to the best teachers. 
• Eighteen states and the District of Columbia have already been awarded $4 billion in grants through Race to the Top.

From the article:

Nearly 900 school districts across the nation intend to apply for a slice of close to $400 million in grants that the U.S. Education Department will distribute in support of local initiatives that help close achievement gaps and prepare students for college and a career. The department announced Aug. 31 that 893 applicants are slated to participate in the Race to the Top-District competition. ...