North Carolina has won $70 million more in the federal government’s Race To The Top grant competition. The second award will go to early childhood education.
North Carolina is one of only 6 repeat winners. The U.S. Department of Education made the announcement this morning. North Carolina’s total grant award from Race to the Top is now around $470 million.
The latest grant will go to funding improvements to early childhood programs for at-risk kids. It will also be used to improve student and teacher assessments.
It is unknown how this award will affect the ongoing disagreement over early childhood education in the state. Over the summer, the legislature cut the budget for Smart Start and More at Four and appeared to limit eligibility. In August, Governor Bev Perdue issued an executive order that pre-kindergarten classes be open to all at-risk kids.
