Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge
Inactive
- Assistance listing
- 84.412
- Agency
-
Department of Education
- Grant awards
- 20 $993,325,114 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- RTT-ELC
- Assistance type
-
- Project Grant
- Eligible applicants
-
- Government - General
- Beneficiaries
-
- State
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of Education awarded the most recent Race to the Top–Early Learning Challenge grant on January 1, 2014, CFDA 84.412, for state efforts to increase enrollment of low-income and disadvantaged infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in high-quality early learning programs and to design integrated systems of early learning services. This program is inactive for new competitions; no grant opportunities have been posted since October 2012.
Program activity has ceased. Twenty total grants were awarded between 2012 and 2014, with the final disbursements made over a decade ago. The funding history spans three years of activity: nine awards in 2012, five in 2013, and six in 2014. No recent grant opportunities are open.
The program funded state-level early learning system development and enrollment expansion initiatives. Representative awards included $51.7 million obligated for a project completing in 2017, $52.3 million for a project extending through 2018, and $69.9 million for a project completing in 2015. Individual awards typically ranged from $30 million to $74 million.
All twenty awards were Project Grants. The Department of Education obligated $993.3 million in combined federal dollars across two funding sources: the Department of Education's main office accounted for 15 awards totaling $773.9 million, while the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education issued 5 awards totaling $219.4 million.
The most recent opportunity, posted September 20, 2012, with a due date of October 26, 2012, was restricted to states that had scored approximately 75 percent or higher on the prior fiscal year competition—limiting eligibility to Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, Oregon, and Wisconsin. This represented a Phase 2 solicitation following earlier rounds.
The program is not a candidate for active pursuit. Award activity ended twelve years ago, competition cycles have not resumed, and the historical opportunity structure was state-restricted and multi-phase. Applicants seeking early childhood education funding through federal grants should monitor for successor or replacement programs within the Department of Education's portfolio.
Objective and description
- Objective
To improve the quality of early childhood programs and to close the achievement gap for high-need children. The RTT-ELC grant competition focuses on improving early learning and development programs for young children by supporting States' efforts to: (1) increase the number and percentage of low-income and disadvantaged children in each age group of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers who are enrolled in high-quality early learning programs; (2) design and implement an integrated system of high-quality early learning programs and services; and (3) ensure that any use of assessments conforms with the recommendations of the National Research Council's reports on early childhood.
Grant opportunities
| Opportunity | Status | Posted | Applications due |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Race to the Top: Early Learning Challenge; Phase 2 CFDA Number 84.412A | Closed |
Grant awards
| Award | Recipient | Federal obligations | Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Race to the top - early learning challenge | State Of New Jersey | $43,829,239 | |
| Race to the top - early learning challenge | Commonwealth Of Kentucky | $44,348,482 | |
| Race to the top - early learning challenge | Michigan Department Of Education | $51,586,840 | |
| Race to the top - early learning challenge | Pa Department Of Human Services | $51,727,065 | |
| Race to the top - early learning challenge | State Of Georgia | $51,739,896 | |
| Race to the top - early learning challenge | Human Services Vermont Agency Of | $35,006,774 | |
| Race to the top - early learning challenge | State Of Wisconsin Dept Of Children & Families | $34,052,084 | |
| Race to the top - early learning challenge | State Of Oregon | $30,457,590 | |
| Race to the top - early learning challenge | State Of New Mexico Public Education Department | $37,299,196 | |
| Race to the top - early learning challenge | Illinois State Board Of Education | $52,344,780 |
Latest 10 of 20 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Department Of Education California | $74,121,392 | 7% |
| 2 | Ohio Department Of Education | $69,993,360 | 7% |
| 3 | North Carolina Department Of Health & Human Services | $67,861,816 | 7% |
| 4 | Washington State Department Of Early Learning | $60,000,000 | 6% |
| 5 | Illinois State Board Of Education | $52,344,780 | 5% |
| 6 | State Of Georgia | $51,739,896 | 5% |
| 7 | Pa Department Of Human Services | $51,727,064 | 5% |
| 8 | Michigan Department Of Education | $51,586,840 | 5% |
| 9 | Massachusetts Department Of Early Education & Care | $49,995,024 | 5% |
| 10 | Department Of Education Delaware | $49,878,776 | 5% |
10 of 20 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2019 | -$2,740,665 |
| FY2018 | -$459,025 |
| FY2017 | -$3,676,376 |
| FY2014 | $280,778,156 |
| FY2013 | $199,702,313 |
| FY2012 | $519,720,712 |
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 84.412?
Assistance Listing 84.412 is Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge, a federal grant program run by Department of Education. It is inactive.
What is the CFDA number for Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge?
Its CFDA number is 84.412: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 84.412 awarded?
20 grant awards under 84.412 have obligated $993,325,114 in federal funds to 20 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 84.412?
The recipients obligated the most under Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge are Department Of Education California ($74,121,392), Ohio Department Of Education ($69,993,360) and North Carolina Department Of Health & Human Services ($67,861,816).
Are there open grant opportunities under 84.412?
No opportunity listed under 84.412 is open now. The latest, U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Race to the Top: Early Learning Challenge; Phase 2 CFDA Number 84.412A, was posted on September 20, 2012.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
- Every grant award and opportunity under it
- Funding by recipient, agency and assistance type
- Alerts for new opportunities
- Ask GovTribe AI about this program