Utah schools don't make final Race to the Top cut

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Two Utah school districts that were finalists for millions of dollars in Race to Top federal education grants aren't on the list of winners.

Salt Lake City and Ogden school districts were among 61 applications on the U.S. Department of Education's short list, but the districts didn't make the final list announced Tuesday.

Sixteen districts or groups of schools won the money, including the Carson City School District in Nevada and St. Vrain Valley Schools in Colorado.

The Race to the Top-District program provides four-year grants ranging from $5 million to $40 million.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan says the competition is designed to support local efforts to drive education reform and improve student achievement.

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