About two dozen states are taking a second shot at millions of dollars for schools in the federal "Race to the Top" grant program, but at least nine others are opting out.
For those nine the chance at hundreds of millions of dollars wasn't enough to overcome the objections of teachers unions, reluctance to pass laws to suit the program or fears of giving up too much local control.
Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Oregon, South Dakota, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming will all be on the sidelines for the second round.
None of the nine did very well in the first round and needed to pass new education laws to be competitive. Some wanted to do so, but decided there wasn't enough time before the Tuesday deadline for the second round.
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