As of January 7, only three states (New Jersey, Illinois, and South Carolina) have submitted applications for Phase 2 of the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund.  The deadline is January 11, although extensions are available. An approved SFSF Phase 2 application is a prerequisite for applying for R2T.  The application for SFSF Phase 2 presented a new way to characterize persistently low-performing schools; this new characterization extends to R2T and School Improvement Grants as well.  The targeted low-performing schools are to be:

• the lowest achieving 5% (or 5 schools, whichever number is higher) of Title 1 schools in improvement, corrective action, or restructuring in the state and the lowest-achieving 5% (or 5) of secondary schools in the state that are eligible for, but do not receive Title 1 funds, taking into account both the achievement and the lack of progress in the "all students" group on the state’s assessments in reading/language ares and mathematics; and
   
• high schools with a graduation rate of less than 60% over a number of years (if they also are Title 1 schools in improvement, corrective action, or restructuring, or are eligible for, but do not receive, Title 1 funds).