N.J. will not get federal 'Race to the Top' education funding
Published: Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 11:31 AM Updated: Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 11:43 AM
Gov. Chris Christie and Education Commissioner Bret Schundler at a Spotswood school in July.New Jersey has been shut out of a federal education grant that could have been worth as much as $400 million to transform parts of the state's public school system.
The U.S. Education Department says nine other states and the District of Columbia will receive money through the second round of the Race to the Top Program.
New Jersey was one of 18 finalists.
New Jersey's Education Department had high hopes that the state could win the grant as a way to jump-start programs favored by Gov. Chris Christie. The state said it would have used the money to start paying teachers partly according to how well students perform on tests and to reward top teachers willing to work in tough school districts.
U.S. Education Department spokesman Justin Hamilton said the winners are: Florida, Georgia,