DENVER (AP) — Colorado has been passed over in its third attempt to earn a share of federal “Race to the Top” education grants.

Colorado is not among the nine states that will share $500 million in grant money intended to jump-start improvements in early childhood education. The White House announced the winning states Friday.

Janelle Asmus of the Colorado Department of Education says Colorado is still waiting to hear on another grant competition. In that contest, Colorado could win up to $17.9 million. Asmus said Colorado could find out about that competition by the end of the year.

Colorado also applied for, but didn’t receive, federal grant money from the first two rounds of “Race to the Top” competition.

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