Minn. Applies For Next Round Of Race To The Top

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Minnesota has applied for a new round of federal education grants.

Gov. Mark Dayton and the Minnesota Department of Education submitted its Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge application this week.

Minnesota is seeking to leverage up to $45 million in federal funds to support the state's early learning initiatives.

The Obama administration's Early Learning Challenge is the third round of its "Race to the Top" state competition, which passed out nearly $4 billion in federal education money last year.

The new competition is designed to encourage better coordination, clearer learning standards and increased access to early learning programs for low-income children.

The U.S. Department of Education is slated to award the latest grants by the end of the year.

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