Round 1 of the Race to the Top had only two winners, Delaware and Tennessee. But states that did not win can adjust their applications and reapply for Round 2 funding. Democrats for Education Reform (DFER), The Education Equality Project (EEP) and Education Reform Now have gone through each finalist's application to analyze how it might score higher in Round 2. You can check out their state-by-state analysis here.

The co-chairs of the Education Equality Project recently wrote an Op-Ed in the Washington Post about why RT3 and similar school reform efforts are so important even in the context of the significant challenges facing our children outside of school. "Plenty of evidence demonstrates that schools can make an enormous difference despite the challenges presented by poverty and family background," they write.