12/03/09

BOISE, Idaho (AP) _ The state's top elected education official
will begin a series of community stops next week to gather input on
Idaho's application for $75 million or more in competitive federal
grants.

The state Department of Education says the ``Race to the Top''
grant program could be Idaho's only opportunity to boost funding
for public schools in the next few years.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna will begin the
first of five stops in Ammon on Dec. 8.

The grant application for the federal Department of Education's
``Race to the Top'' program is due Jan. 19.

The state's proposal is likely include a plan for more charter
schools and teacher pay based on performance, educational reforms
that are backed by the Obama administration but have not garnered
widespread support in Idaho.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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