Race to Top Applications Scrutinized.

The article discusses prospects of states winning the U.S. Department of Education Race to the Top funding competition. It notes that guidelines included using student test scores in teacher and principal evaluation, support by school boards and teachers' unions of the plan, and tough approaches to poorly performing schools. It notes that some states traded less rigor for more local support, and vice versa. Education specialist Chester E. Finn thinks sincerity of the plans will be important.