Map: 35 States Apply For Federal Early Education Funding

Thirty-five states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will compete for $500 million in federal education funding after the application period closed for the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge.

According to an Education Department release, applicants were asked to create a comprehensive plan to improve early learning and development programs that focused on measuring outcomes for early education students and building a quality workforce in the area.

Applications will be reviewed by early education experts from around the country, the department said. In mid-December, the department will award grants ranging from $50 to $100 million to the highest-ranked states, based on their population of low-income and proposed plan.