Gov. Jerry Brown and state schools chief Tom Torlakson have yet to indicate their interest in two upcoming Race to the Top grant competitions – despite the fact that the federal government is expected to release the applications any day now.

California is eligible for both federal competitions – one that focuses on early childhood education for grants up to $500 million; and a separate and smaller grant of up to $50 million for states that were losers in the two prior rounds.

Governors in 36 states have already told the U.S. Department of Education that they want to compete for the early education dollars, which will go out to states by the end of 2011.

And a coalition of California school districts has expressed interest in applying for the