FRANKFORT —
Kentucky wasn't among a handful of states that will receive funding from the federal "Race to the Top" grant competition, the U.S. Department of Education announced Tuesday.
Some $3.4 billion will be divvied between Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C. Another $350 million is coming in a separate competition for states creating new academic assessments.
The program is part of President Barack Obama's economic stimulus plan. It rewards states for embarking on ambitious reforms to improve struggling schools, close the achievement gap and boost graduation rates.
Kentucky was among 19 finalists competing for the funding.
Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear said Kentucky will continue with education reforms despite not receiving the federal money.
"While we are disappointed that Kentucky did not win an award in the second round of Race to the Top funding, we are confident that the steps we are taking in education will significantly improve the education experience for Kentucky's students," he said. "The fact that Kentucky was named a finalist twice for these funds speaks to the success of the combined efforts of my office, the Department of Education and the General Assembly."
Kentucky Education Association President Sharron Oxendine said not receiving a share of the funding came as a disappointment.
"In no state in the nation is the need for that funding greater than the need that exists in Kentucky's schools and among Kentucky's children," Oxendine said.
News that Kentucky wasn't selected touched off a flurry of statements from other state political figures. Kentucky House Speaker Greg Stumbo called it "a shame."
Republican gubernatorial candidate Phil Moffett, a Louisville businessman who has made education a centerpiece of his campaign, said not receiving the funding will make it difficult for Kentucky to implement a newly enacted law that sets new learning standards, new assessments and more accountability for underperforming schools.
"We stayed in the middle of the road too long," Moffett said in a statement.
Copyright 2010
The Associated Press.
State News
Kentucky misses out on federal education funding
9 states, DC get $3.4B in 'Race to the Top' grants
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