State Decides Not to Apply for Race to Top Funds

Kansas education officials say the state won’t apply this year for federal Race to the Top funds.

The state’s two previous applications for the federal funds have been rejected.

Colleen Riley, who oversees early childhood programs at the Kansas State Department of Education, says feedback from the previous bids made it clear the state didn’t meet all the criteria that the Department of Education required for the grants.

She says state agencies believe another bid from Kansas would also be rejected. And she told The Topeka Capital Journal that the department would need more time to prepare an application, which is due soon.