78 districts, 4 charters join Race to the Top

Seventy-eight South Jersey school districts and four charter schools have signed on to share in the state's Race to the Top award, according to information released by the state Department of Education on Friday.

Statewide, 372 districts and charters will take part in the innovation-oriented program, and the majority will be eligible to split $19 million of a $38 million federal grant awarded to New Jersey in December. The others who have signed on may be eligible for education-supporting grants.

In its application for the federal money, the Garden State selected objectives that included implementing a new teacher evaluation system, creating a principal evaluation pilot, strengthening the state's charter school authorization practices, further developing curriculum and assessments, and providing additional teaching supports.

"We are glad to see that so many districts and charter schools have signed up to participate in the state's reform agenda," acting Education Commissioner Chris Cerf said in a statement. "These funds can be used for a number of purposes that will support learning, such as training for teachers on the new teacher evaluation system and the implementation of the Common Core State Standards" adopted by many states.