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18 States, D.C., Named Race to Top Round 2 Finalists

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan addresses an audience at The National Press Club in Washington on July 27, where he announced the 19 finalists that will compete in the interview portion of the Race to the Top Round Two competition.

—Christopher Powers/Education Week

By Michele McNeil

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan picked 18 states and the District of Columbia to advance to the final round of the Race to the Top competition, where 10 to 15 grants totaling $3.4 billion will be awarded in September to applicants he believes have the boldest, most sustainable plans for education improvements.

The list announced Tuesday includes all of the states that were finalists in the first round, but lost, along with five additional states: Maryland, which did not compete in round one; New Jersey, which placed 18th; Hawaii, which placed 22nd last time; California, which placed 27th; and Arizona, which placed 40th.

The returning finalists are: Colorado, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode...