WASHINGTON, D.C. (WKOW) -- Wisconsin is among five more states to secure a share of the 2012 Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge grant.
Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, and Oregon will also receive part of the $133 million grant fund to improve quality and expand access to early learning programs throughout their states.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan says, "Every child deserves the lifelong advantages of a high-quality early learning program." Duncan went on to thank the leadership of governors, state officials and education advocates across the now 14 Early Learning challenge states. "Thousands more of our youngest children will receive a stronger start to earning the skills needed to succeed in Kindergarten through college and career."
The Race to Top-Early Learning Challenge program was first launched in 2011 as a program jointly administered by the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services.
Through this competition, the Obama Administration called on states to create proposals to improve early learning by coordinating existing programs, evaluating and rating program quality, and increasing access to high-quality programs, particularly for children with high needs.
Today, the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services announced the following awards: Colorado-$29,907,916; Illinois-$34,798,696, New Mexico-$25,000,000, Oregon-$20,508,902; and Wisconsin-$22,700,000.
Grants will be awarded over a 4-year period in accordance with each state's plan.
