Utah not chosen for multimillion-dollar education grant

SALT LAKE CITY — State education leaders are reeling after learning Utah wasn't chosen to receive a slice of the $4.35 billion "Race to the Top" federal grant.

The funds are for implementing education reform plans. State education officials were hoping for $250 million to improve schools — everything from training teachers to boosting technology.

"We are very disappointed," said State Superintendent Larry Shumway.

At least one education leader voiced her suspicions Utah didn't make the cut because the state hasn't been supportive of the Obama administration.

"I think this first round is political in which states get the funding. I think they tend to lean toward the states that have been supportive of the Obama administration. It's just never really said," said JoDee Sundberg, Alpine School Board member.

However, Justin Hamilton, press secretary for the U.S. Department of Education, told the Deseret News that is not true. "We're judging applications on the merits and will be 100 percent transparent with our choices," he said.

Hamilton said winning and losing applications, in addition to the peer reviewer's comments on each state, will be released publicly.

Sundberg said she feels Utah "had a really good plan."

The finalists are Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Tennessee. Winners will be announced in April. A total of 41 states applied.

During a national press conference Thursday announcing the 16 finalists, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said the fact that the chosen states are all eastern states, except for Colorado, is "purely coincidence."

Duncan added that he was "extraordinarily impressed by the effort and hard work and commitment to reform" from the many applicants.

Individual school districts in losing states can apply for a second round of federal funding. The deadline is in June.

Doling out the first round of money statewide was to be based on a criteria including enrollment, low-income children and students who speak English as a Second Language.

Canyons School District was to receive $5 million. Canyons Superintendent Dave Doty said he was hoping the money would "help us advance our efforts to better prepare students for college and careers."