Nine States and the District of Columbia Win Second Round Race to the Top Grants | U.S. Department of Education.

The General Assembly was so sure Illinois would receive a federal Race to the Top grant that the legislature appropriated the anticipated $400 million before adjourning last spring to hit the campaign trail.

But when the U.S. Department of Education revealed its list of winners today, Illinois was not on the list. After coming in fifth in Round 1, and strengthening its application in the meantime, the State Board of Education has graciously accepted that it will receive no RTTT funding.

State Superintendents Chris Koch was to hold a news conference on the subject at 1 p.m. Matt Vanover, ISBE spokesman, expressed the agency’s “disappointment” about the outcome, but stressed that Koch believes Illinois education is “better because of the competition.”

The state will proceed with many of the programs included in the RTTT application – the longitudinal data system, the efforts to improve the teaching and educational administrative corps, for example – but “we’re just going to do those things at a slower pace.”

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In case you were wondering, an old Toyota Avalon does have a third digit in its temp gauge readout.

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Hanna Andersson:

sale: summer clearance: view all.

If you haven’t checked out the summer clearance sale in the last few weeks, I believe time is running out.  There’s not much selection left, but man, this stuff is GREAT quality.  I got quite a few things for Heather this summer.  (The only way I can afford this stuff is on clearance.)

For baby girls (10-24m), there seems to be quite a bit left.  So, if you have a little girl that still needs summer clothes, or you know someone who is pregnant who will have a little girl next summer, head over there.  Seems to be quite a bit for size 4-6 too.  (BTW, I bought a mix of 130 and 140 sizes for Heather, the 140′s fit her better but the 130′s do still fit.)

They also have a back to school sale going on, but discounts aren’t as deep as the clearance.