Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has taken steps to apply for federal education grants from the Race to the Top program. The commonwealth is eligible for a portion of the $500 million that will be made available later this year. Like the previous round of Race to the Top grants, states must put together lengthy applications for the money.
Kentucky made sweeping changes to school assessments as part of its application for the first round of grants in 2009, but did not receive any money.
The new funds are meant to improve early childhood education. Beshear has appointed a 26-member Early Childhood Advisory Council that will help put together the application.
