New Jersey's application for up to $400 million in federal education dollars under the federal Race to the Top school reform program is one of 19 finalists, according to an official with the U.S. Department of Education. Not all finalists are expected to receive funding as the requests made exceed the $3.4 billion available in the program. Winners and...
New Jersey has been named among 19 finalists for federal Race to the Top funding. The application for the program caused a conflict between Gov. Chris Christie, right, and the state's largest teacher's union after Education Commissioner Bret Schundler, left, agreed to concessions with the union without advising the governor first.New Jersey's application for up to $400 million in federal education dollars under the federal Race to the Top school reform program is one of 19 finalists, according to an official with the U.S. Department of Education.
Not all finalists are expected to receive funding as the requests made exceed the $3.4 billion available in the program. Winners and amounts are expected to be announced in September.
The Race to the Top application caused a conflict between Gov. Chris Christie and the state's largest teacher's union, the New Jersey Education Association. Just before submitting the application last month, New Jersey Education Commissioner Bret Schundler agreed to make changes to win support from the NJEA.
But Christie changed the application, and sent it in without the NJEA's sign-on.
Some 18 states, plus the District of Columbia, were named finalists in the program, which is expected to award $3.4 billion for educational improvements.
New Jersey submitted an application in the first round of Race to the Top earlier this year, but was not named a finalist.
Previous coverage:
• Gov. Christie says N.J. education chief made mistake with Race to the Top compromise
• Key points agreed on by NJEA are changed in new 'Race to the Top' application
• N.J. teachers union joins Christie administration in 'Race to the Top' application
• N.J. teachers union backs 'Race to the Top' application
• N.J. education chief gets mixed reviews for reform plans, 'Race to the Top' grant
• N.J. school districts are given extra time to sign up for 'Race to the Top' grant
• N.J. schools reach deadline to join bid for $400M federal 'Race to the Top' grant