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Connecticut Out of 'Race to the Top'

Connecticut did not make it to the next level of finalists poised to receive the $3 billion Race to the Top funds. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced the 19 winners on Tuesday, selected from among the 35 states and the District of Columbia that competed for the federal money.

In the final days of Conecticut's legislative session, the state adopted a bill designed to improve the state's chances of qualifying for the federal money. States that eventually receive the Race to the Top grants will be selected based upon their commitment to education reform, said a statement on the Department of Education's website. The federal program will distribute a total of $4.35 billion. The final recipients will be announced in August.

"Connecticut's loss in Round 2 of Race to the Top is the clearest sign yet of just how far we have to go to restore Connecticut's leadership on education policy," said Alex Johnston, president of the educational advocacy organization ConnCAN.

The 19 finalists are: Arizona, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and South Carolina.

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