"While the California Department of Education and the state Legislature are clearing the track to compete for federal Race To The Top (RTTP) funding, many local agencies have chosen to not step into the starting blocks.
The Santa Maria-Bonita, Santa Maria Joint Union High School, Orcutt Union, Lompoc Unified and Santa Ynez Valley school districts have all decided to not participate in the program.
Locally, only Lucia Mar Unified and Guadalupe Union school districts have filed paperwork to be included in the RTTP.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 set aside $4.35 billion nationally for RTTP funding. California could be eligible for up to $700 million, but it must “compete” with other states for the funds according to the rules set forth by the federal Department of Education."