Since 2009, the federal government has poured more than $4.6 billion into the School Improvement Grants program, one of the most ambitious attempts at education reform in recent history.

At our upcoming seminar at the University of Chicago on March 24th, we'll take a close look at the federal School Improvement Grant program, the research base behind school turnarounds, and how charter schools factor into attempts to reimagine and reform chronically low-performing schools.

We will examine how states, districts and individual schools are using this huge influx of money, and whether the money is achieving the intended goal: helping improve student outcomes in the nation’s most troubled schools.

Session topics will include: an overview of SIG implementation at the state and national level; how teacher evaluation models factor into districtwide reform; and how schools are reconciling the competing demands of implementing federally funded reforms and maintaining basic programs amid severe budget cuts.

There are a limited number of scholarships available for reporters whose news organizations are unable to cover their travel expenses. For scholarship or application questions, please contact Stephanie Cvetetic. She can be reached at scvetetic@ewa.org or 202.452.9830.