18 states, DC are education reform grant finalists

ATLANTA – Eighteen states and the District of Columbia were named finalists on Tuesday in the second round of the federal "Race to the Top" school reform grant competition, giving them a chance to receive a share of $3.4 billion.

The states are: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and South Carolina.

The competition rewards ambitious reforms aimed at improving struggling schools and closing the achievement gap.

"It's being driven by great educators and administrators who are challenging the defeatism and inertia that has trapped generations of children in second-rate schools," Education Secretary Arne Duncan said in a speech announcing the finalists.

Applications were screened by a panel of peer reviewers, and finalists will travel to Washington in coming weeks to present their proposals.

In all, 35 states and the District of Columbia applied for the second round of the application. The 19 finalists have asked for $6.2 billion, though only $3.4 billion is available.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100727/ap_on_re_us/us_education_grants

in administration or teachers in any schools that oppose the Corporate take over of our public schools.

Spend the money to distribute turquoise action figures of Greene in military garb (made by the very children having trouble in school).

Why? Why not. Its just as proven as a method of promoting education and mobility as anything else. Plus it'll be more fun



Why can't Arne win me over by shooting 3-pointers after he delivers a speech? Boooooring