A handful of metro-area school districts just submitted applications for the most recent round of Race to the Top, where school districts instead of states vie for a chunk of the federal education money.

Among those applying are Adams 12 Five Star Schools, Mapleton Public Schools and Denver Public Schools.

If they win, Adams 12 and DPS will invest in similar software systems that would personalize education.

"The goal is to get every student and every teacher online, whether it's with a laptop or a tablet, and to have them connect through a platform to work in a blended learning environment," said Adams 12 grant director Amy Bruce. "The system we desire automatically gives teachers a visual of, say, the seven students in critical need and tells them what issues they're having."

The software and technology that Adams 12 envisions providing — with the grant of just less than $10 million — would give teachers recommendations of additional resources to share instantly with students.

The platform also would allow parents and students to track progress and easily access the personalized resources.

"Imagine that each kid can virtually communicate with their teachers or other students," Bruce said. "Think about how much more readily you can engage parents without having to require that they show up in person at a certain time. It's such a win-win vision."

DPS has requested $42 million, a large portion of which would be used for similar software. Another portion would be distributed to schools through proposals in chunks of up to $300,000. A panel would review each school's plan for the money.


"One school leader might say, 'I want iPads, I want more computers, I want clickers because I want to track what my students are learning, or I want high-dosage tutoring,' " said Alyssa Whitehead-Bust, DPS chief of innovation and reform.

In Adams 12, the technology would be implemented only for the district's three STEM schools — which focus on science, technology, engineering and math — and for an estimated 1,400 other students in the feeder system for Northglenn High School. If there are positive results, the district will look at ways to spread the changes to the whole district.

Mapleton Public Schools has requested a $20 million grant in hopes of extending the school year to 185 days and reducing summer break to five weeks.

The district would partner with community groups to provide enrichment opportunities and camp-style programs during other extended school breaks.

Officials from each district said they hope to deploy their plans even if they don't land Race to the Top grants in December.

"This is the next step we've been thinking about for a while," said Mapleton assistant superintendent Jackie Kapushion. "Race to the Top was an opportunity for us to implement that plan in a very expedited way."

Aurora Public Schools and the Boulder Valley School District had intended to apply but decided against it.
