Virginia out of Race to the Top

Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) confirmed Wednesday that the state is dropping out of the federal Race to the Top competition for school reform funding.

Virginia had finished well behind other states and the District of Columbia in the first round of the competition and was not expected to climb in the rankings, absent further legislative action. The District is reapplying and Maryland is applying for the first time in the second round, with a deadline coming Tuesday.

Race to the Top, a centerpiece of the Obama administration education agenda, offers $4 billion in federal aid in exchange for state commitment to pursue innovation to improve low-performing schools and other aspects of public education. Delaware and Tennessee won in the first round. McDonnell had sought to promote the state's bid in the first round. More to come on washingtonpost.com

-- Nick Anderson