State Representative Mike Henne (R-Clayton) has announced that the state of Ohio will receive up to $70 million in federal “Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge” grants, which will be utilized to better prepare disadvantaged children for kindergarten.

The competition focuses on improving early learning and development programs for young children by supporting states’ efforts to increase the number and percentage of low-income and disadvantaged children in each age group of infants, toddlers and preschoolers who are enrolled in high-quality early learning programs; design and implement an integrated system of high-quality early learning programs and services; and ensure that any use of assessments conforms with the recommendations of the National Research Council’s reports on early childhood.

“Many of the schools in my district and the Dayton area participated in Race to the Top, and I am proud to see that our teachers’ and students’ hard work is paying off,” said Henne.

A total of 35 states, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, competed for a share of $500 million. Other states who were awarded grants are California, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Washington.