In Flip-Flop, Montana Opts to Vie for Race to Top

Bozeman, Mont.

Months after Montana education leaders said the requirements for a type of federal education grant pushed an urban agenda onto rural states, those same leaders are putting together an application for the next round of Race to the Top grants.

Montana was one of only 10 states that did not apply for the first round of funding. Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau said at the time that Montana shouldn't conform to "one-size-fits-all" federal requirements.

In July, Juneau wrote to Education Secretary Arne Duncan, urging major changes to the Race to the Top rules. The letter was signed by every major education...