Washington to apply for Race to Top funds

Fri., May 21, 2010

By Jody Lawrence-Turner jodyl@spokesman.com (509) 459-5593

With 95 percent of the school districts signing on, Gov. Chris Gregoire has announced Washington will submit an application for the federal Race to the Top funds.

“The strong support we have received from districts represents the great diversity of our state,” Gregoire said.

Earlier this month, the governor said she’d reconsider applying for the federal grant if she lacked support from a majority of the districts.

If selected, Washington would receive $250 million over four years. Spokane Public Schools would receive about $1.6 million annually, Central Valley about $263,000, and Mead would receive about $198,000.

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