In this paper, the authors lay out a number of features of "Race to the Top" funding and what states like Michigan should expect from the upcoming competition. They then provide a description of the kind of strategies--including next steps broken down by key actors and back-of-the-envelope cost calculations for implementing such strategies--being promoted both by Department officials as well as the many influential education reform groups that have the Department's ear. National Council on Teacher Quality recently prepared a white paper for Colorado that provided much of the basic advice and information included in this report. The authors outline in this brief the same human capital strategies they provided to Colorado. They issue the same general advice and tips for being competitive in the "Race to the Top". In this paper, however, they have tailored, where appropriate, their specific implementation recommendations and cost calculations to the particulars of Michigan's education system. The Impact of Teachers' Advanced Degrees on Student Learning (Metin Ozdemir and Wendy Stevenson) is appended. (Contains 44 footnotes.)