Barbara Flynn Currie.

Race to the Top for Federal Funds Starts with New P-20 Council

CHICAGO, IL – On December 1st Rep. Currie was appointed to the P-20 Council, a key advisory panel that will make recommendations to the Governor about strengthening our education system. Approximately $400 million in federal Race to the Top discretionary funds may be available to the state of Illinois. The P-20 – which stands for pre-school through graduate school – Council will play an instrumental role in Illinois’ efforts to win those discretionary funds.

“To ensure a high quality education for all Illinois residents is to help ensure the economic and social vitality of our great state,” said Currie.

The U.S. Department of Education Race to the Top is a $4.35 billion competitive grant process focused on innovative approaches to education. Illinois could receive approximately $400 million in discretionary funds made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Rep. Currie joins business leaders, teachers, parents, civic groups, university, community college and school officials, and other elected officials on the Council. The broad range of expertise will allow the council to take a comprehensive look at what is necessary for success in our education system.

Rep. Currie has long been a strong advocate for improved education in Illinois. She initiated the state program that funds pre-school services. Last legislative session, in an effort to create an informed plan for improving education, Rep. Currie sponsored the creation of the Innovation, Intervention and Restructuring Task Force to gather data and report recommendations to the General Assembly. Her appointment to the P-20 Council is another step in her efforts to reform education in Illinois.

Work for Rep. Currie and the Council begins immediately – the first meeting is to be held on December 8th.

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