"GWEN IFILL: Now: Billions of dollars are about to come available in new federal education spending, and states are competing for a piece of the pie. The money, part of the government stimulus package, is designed to give public school systems a leg up. But there's a catch.
John Merrow, the 'NewsHour''s special correspondent for education, explains."
John Merrow, the 'NewsHour''s special correspondent for education, explains."
JOHN MERROW: President Obama visited a school in Falls Church, Virginia, today to promote his major education initiative known as Race to the Top. The program offers a shot at new funding. But the president was quick to remind the states that not all of them would win the money.
U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: And it's the competitive nature of this initiative that we believe helps make it so effective. We laid out a few key criteria and said, "If you meet these tests, we'll reward you by helping you reform your schools."
JOHN MERROW: Most states have accepted the challenge. Representatives flocked to workshops held in December, eager to learn the rules of a competition that offers a share of $4.35 billion.
JOANNE WEISS, director, Race to the Top: Most of the Department of Education's funding is -- is formulaic funding. It's funding that Congress gives the department, and we have to give it out on a formula basis.
JOHN MERROW: Joanne Weiss is the director of the Race to the Top.
JOANNE WEISS: This program is a competitive program. The states that win Race to the Top, we're hoping that what they do is show the way to the rest of the country for what could and should happen out there.