Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today named the 16 finalists in the first round of its Race to the Top competition, which will deliver $4.35 billion in school reform grants. Forty states and the District of Columbia submitted applications in January for this first round of funding. Winners for Phase 1 will be chosen from among the following finalists and announced during the first week in April.
- Colorado
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Massachusetts
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
States could win as much as $900 million each, depending on their size. The final number of winners, which will be announced next month, is expected to be as few as five states.
The Department enlisted a panel 58 outside judges to select the finalists based on 19 criteria, including the state’s track record, openness to charter schools, and systems to judge teacher performance.
States that apply, but do not win in Phase 1 may reapply for Phase 2. Applications for Phase 2 will be due in June, with winners selected in September.