N.Y. Gov. Says Foes 'Blew Off' Race to Top Bid

Albany, N.Y.

Gov. David Paterson said Monday he wasn't surprised that New York missed out on up to $700 million in federal education grants, but he believes the Legislature can act to give the state a strong entry for the next round of funding.

Paterson said he thinks New York could have won $500 million to $700 million in the Obama administration's "Race to the Top" program to improve public schools if the Legislature made two changes he urged: lifting the cap on the number of charter schools in the state from the current 200 and ending a measure that prohibits student performance from being considered in granting tenure for teachers.

Both were opposed by the state's powerful teachers unions, which Paterson says also worked against New York's application. Charter schools are privately operated schools that compete with traditional public schools for...