By Associated Press
Montgomery, AL – Alabama is not a finalist for ``Race to the Top'' education grants from the federal government.
The U.S. Department of Education named 16 finalists Thursday in the competition for $4.35 billion in school reform grants.
Alabama was one of 41 applicants in the first round and the winners will be chosen in April. A second round of applications will be accepted in June.
Gov. Bob Riley said he was disappointed but not surprised by the news, which means Alabama won't have a chance to get $181 million.
He had been urging legislators to pass a bill to allow charter schools. That would have given Alabama a better chance in the competition, which gave states higher marks for innovation.