Race to the Top Recipients to be Decided in August

by Kentucky Public Radio's Tony McVeighKentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday says the state will learn in early August if it’s a finalist in its second bid for federal Race to the Top dollars. Tennessee and Delaware won the first round of the education innovation and reform initiative.Holliday remains cautiously optimistic, but says the lack of charter schools in Kentucky’s application probably hurt.“I think we’re probably in the 12 to 15 range," says Holliday, "and it depends on any large states that might get funding as to how far they’ll get. I think there are a minimum of ten funded. It might go up to 15. We might squeak in on the bottom end.”Charter schools legislation failed to emerge from this year’s regular legislative session, and wasn't on the agenda of last month’s special session on the budget. Charter schools are publicly funded, but are freed from some state regulations in exchange for greater accountability.