Once Tennessee secured $500 million in federal money to turn around its education system, it was up to individual school districts to decide how to spend their money.
The largest five of the 136 school districts in the state - Memphis City, Metro Nashville and Hamilton, Shelby and Knox counties, which enroll about 39 percent of the state's students - received one-quarter of the money, or about $129 million.
Assuming each district makes progress on the goals it outlined, officials will receive money over the course of four years.
The bulk of the money in each system will be spent on various forms of professional development for teachers and principals, as well as stipends for teachers who do extra work such as summer programs and model teaching.
Officials with the U.S. Department of Education now are looking over all of Tennessee's plans, along with the total statewide budget. State officials hope both will be approved in the next several weeks so districts can start receiving funds right before school starts.
"We're looking at crunch time," said Amanda Anderson, spokeswoman for the Tennessee Department of Education.
Hamilton County officials said their plan is in place and ready to go as soon as the school year begins. District expenses will be reimbursed, not given out in a lump sum, said Danielle Clark, spokeswoman for Hamilton County Schools.
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HAMILTON COUNTY SCHOOLS
Students: 39,247
Economically disadvantaged: 59 percent
Total Race to the Top money: $10.9 million
Plan highlights:
Pilot courseware at each high school for credit recovery and credit acceleration, hoping to increase the graduation rate by 1 percent: $358,000
New teacher evaluation pilot program, based on student performance (includes software, training, iPads): $318,000
Develop database, data collection and reporting system to allow real-time electronic access of student test scores for instructional decision making: $540,000
Provide stipends for 10 Teach/Here residency program: $180,000
Prepare math specialists to use the 90-minute math blocks effectively in grades three through seven: $195,000
Create a summer school program: $135,000
Automated method for screening new teacher applicants: $58,000
KNOX COUNTY SCHOOLS
Students: 54,109
Economically disadvantaged: 44.1 percent
Total Race to the Top money: $13.3 million
Plan highlights
Institute a performance-based teacher and principal pay plan: $5.8 million
Put highly skilled professionals into part-time teaching positions to act as "adjunct" teachers: $300,000
MEMPHIS CITY SCHOOLS
Students: 104,829
Economically disadvantaged: 85.8 percent
Total Race to the Top money: $68.4 million
Plan highlights:
Create a program to train principals to serve in high-priority schools: Cost not listed
Lengthen teacher school year by 10 days for professional development; cut back to five extra days in years three and four: $283,000
Lengthen school day one hour per day in target schools, eventually making change in entire district: Cost not listed
Create 31 additional prekindergarten classrooms: $3.1 million (recurring expense)
METRO NASHVILLE SCHOOLS
Students: 70,378
Economically disadvantaged: 75.9 percent
Total Race to the Top money: $30.3 million
Plan highlights:
Create new positions, such as First to the Top project manager, professional development coordinator: $270,000
Provide a master's program customized for Metro Nashville Schools, designed to improve teaching in urban schools: $1 million
Create a Teacher Career Development Institute to guide fourth-year teachers either into teacher leaders or district administrators: $1 million
SHELBY COUNTY SCHOOLS
Students: 46,284
Economically disadvantaged: 33.2 percent
Total Race to the Top money: $5.3 million
Plan highlights:
Create a learning coach program where exemplary tenured teachers with at least five years of experience work with struggling teachers: $800,000
Pay for some assistant principals to take part in university leadership training: $120,000
RACE TO THE TOP
GRANTS AROUND THE REGION
Bledsoe County: $513,000
Bradley County: $1.5 million
Cleveland City: $1.4 million
Grundy County: $1 million
Marion County: $765,000
McMinn County: $1.1 million
Meigs County: $551,000
Polk County: $454,000
Rhea County: $875,000
Sequatchie County: $649,000