SPRINGFIELD —Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced Illinois as a “Race to the Top” finalist Thursday.

Fifteen states and the District of Columbia were chosen out of 40 applicants and Duncan says no more than 2 billion dollars will be given to the winners, who will be announced early April.

030410Duncan4                                                :21          …considerably less"

Duncan says after the first round is over, all applications and critiques will be online as well as the interviews with the final competitors.

He says any state that receives funds must use it for their education reform plan and the funds will be taken away if abused.

030410Duncan1                                                :20          …the right way"

Robin Steans of the advocacy organization Advance Illinois calls this a “huge vote of confidence” for Illinois educational reform.

Illinois’ application asked for about 500-million dollars from Race to the Top, but Steans says she would be surprised if the federal government handed out that much.

030410Steans2                                  :11          …little states"

Steans says any money that come into Illinois schools would be welcomed.