U.S. Department of Ed deems California's RTTT application "incomplete"

Third time was not a charm.

The federal government announced today it would not accept California's application for a share of $200 million in Race to the Top funds because its application was "incomplete."

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson was disappointed about the news.
“I’m disappointed that federal officials have chosen to reject California’s application instead of evaluating it with the flexibility necessary to provide much-needed funding for California’s schools," Torlakson said in a statement. “Our application represented a good faith effort to continue to work toward the federal reform priorities of implementing Common Core standards and improving data sharing among school districts. I had hoped the federal Administration would be mindful of the financial emergency facing California’s schools and the severe constraints it has placed on state resources.”

The U.S. Department of Education accepted the applications of Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. South Carolina, another semi-finalist, opted out.