By Elizabeth Benton, Register Staff

Connecticut was not among 16 states named Thursday by the U.S. Department of Education as finalists in the first round of the Race to the Top competition for $4.35 billion in school reform funds.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced finalists via Twitter.

“We have seen 41 applications come in to us and we couldn’t be more proud of the hard work and the commitment around the country to driving reform and taking student achievement to an entirely different level,” Duncan said in an online video.

Connecticut’s failure in the first round was not unexpected. State education Commissioner Mark McQuillan had previously conceded the early application was a long shot, but said the process would better position the state to incorporate feedback for the second round.

Following the announcement, a flood of educators and politicians announced disappointment and pledged to work to improve Connecticut’s chances in the next round.

“We are, of course, disappointed that Connecticut is not on the short list of finalists,” McQuillan said in a statement. “We look forward to receiving comments from the U.S. Department of Education as to how we can strengthen our application and will resubmit for the second round of funding in June,” he said.

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, said she hoped the state would succeed in the second round.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell said the announcement was disappointing but not unexpected.

“Today’s decision is by no means the end of the process for Connecticut — or, for that matter, the many other states that did not make it past this first hurdle in the race. But it is obvious that we will need to do better, and we will,” she said in a statement.

Alex Johnston, CEO of school reform nonprofit ConnCAN, characterized the state as “rejected, not dejected,” and continued efforts to push for legislative action to better align the state with grant guidelines. Continued...

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“Fortunately, this race happens to be a relay, and today’s announcement was only about the relay’s first leg. Our loss this week hands off the baton from the governor to the legislature, which now has three months before the second-round deadline on June 1 to pass legislation that will reform our public schools in some fundamental areas,” Johnston said.

The competitive grants are geared towards rewarding states that agree to a variety of reforms, including changes to teacher evaluation systems and improving conditions for charter schools.

Connecticut is seeking $192 million in federal funds, and is expected to revise and resubmit its application for the second round of the competition.

Contact Elizabeth Benton at 203-789-5714 or ebenton@newhavenregister.com.

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