Minn. Teachers’ Union Battles Race to the Top Changes

St. Paul, Minn.

Whether Minnesota would submit a second application for hundreds of millions in federal education grants was in doubt Tuesday as the powerful state teachers union came out against a teacher licensing bill that would help the bid.

The measure would make it easier for experts in their fields to get into classrooms, and passing it is considered an important piece of a possible second application for federal "Race to the Top" funds.

Earlier this month, Minnesota's 1,000-page application for $330 million in funding wasn't picked as a finalist for the $4.35 billion in school reform grants. A second round of applications will...