Florida joined nine other states and the District of Columbia as winners in the second round of funding in the Race to the Top Initiative, a release from the U.S. Department of Education stated on Tuesday. This means that Florida would be able to access millions in much-needed educational grants. Although it was not immediately clear, Florida can receive as much as $700 million.
The other states winning grants in the second round are: Maryland, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Rhode Island.
Other states failing to win funding include, Arizona, California, Colorado and Louisiana.
In the first round of competition supporting state-based reforms, Delaware and Tennessee won grants based on their comprehensive plans to reform their schools and the statewide support for those plans.
Race to the Top is the Education’s Department’s multi-billion dollar effort to dramatically re-shape America’s educational system to better engage and prepare students for success in a competitive 21st century economy and workplace.