Illinois came up empty again this morning when the Obama administration announced the winners of the third federal “Race to the Top” education grant competition.
The competition has been a cornerstone of President Barack Obama’s education policy, awarding almost $4 billion to 11 states in its first two rounds. Illinois has been a finalist both times but failed to secure a grant.
The third round, the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge, awarded $500 million for efforts to improve early childhood education. The money will be divided among nine winning states: California, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and Washington.
State government officials and early childhood advocates had been optimistic Illinois would finally receive a federal grant through the competition because the state has made significant investments in improving early childhood education, including the development of a kindergarten readiness assessment.
Illinois does have one more chance.
Winners of the third phase of the general Race to the Top competition are expected to be announced this month, Arne Duncan, the U.S. education secretary and a former Chicago Public Schools chief executive, said Friday. Illinois is one of seven states eligible to receive a portion the $200 million left in the Race to the Top fund.