Dayton Daily News – Ohio is one of nine states that will split $500 million to help prepare youngsters for kindergarten in the latest federal Race to the Top competition, the White House said Friday.

The state, which requested $70 million, was notified early Friday that it had been tapped for an Early Learning Challenge Grant. The state will receive $69.99 million, according to Sen. Sherrod Brown’s office.

Thirty-five states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico applied for the money, and Ohio joined California, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Washington in receiving grants.

The early learning grant program, which is jointly administered by the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services, is aimed at increasing access to quality early childhood education programs targeted at children from low-income families.

“This is a huge win for the children of Ohio and it is a major step toward achieving the goal of having all students enter school ready to learn,” said Ohio’s Superintendent of Public Instruction Stan Heffner.

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