Willowbrook, IL – U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL-13), a senior member of the House Education and Labor Committee, today issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education announced that Illinois would receive $42.8 million in federal education funding during the third round of Race to the Top (RTTP) grant awards:

          “After twice overlooking Illinois, the Department of Education has finally recognized the hard work being performed by educators in our state, as well as the broad, bipartisan reforms that have been adopted to improve our classrooms.  These well-deserved funds will allow our schools to continue moving forward and help overcome some of the financial uncertainty that’s been created in Springfield.   But a short-term grant cannot take the place of comprehensive reform.  Congress needs to address the weaknesses of Race to the Top, incorporate input from local educators, and craft a full reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to ensure that the next generation of Americans is equipped to compete in the 21^st Century economy.”

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