Oklahoma to apply for Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge

Fallin wasn't among the governors of 36 states and the District of Columbia who in July submitted to the U.S. Department of Education notice of their intent to apply for the Race to the Top — Early Learning Challenge.

It left Oklahoma early childhood education advocates nervous the state might not apply for the grants to avoid federal mandates that have been attached to other grants made available by President Barack Obama's administration.

Fallin said she was waiting for the rules of the competition to be released so she could assess whether it was good for the state. After assessing the rules, which were released this month, Fallin said she decided to move forward.

“We could qualify for as much as $60 million in what would be one-time expenditures, one-time funds,” Fallin said. “We would invest in upgrades to our teacher training, our data tracking and improved testing.”

Fallin said those are the kinds of improvements she would encourage the state to pursue even if federal dollars weren't available.

“We are uniquely positioned in Oklahoma, now, as a national leader in early learning programs,” Fallin said. “Oklahoma has actually already fulfilled many of the requirements that are listed on the early learning challenge grant qualifications.”