Race to the Top reforms on track

PROVIDENCE, RI (WPRI) - A new federal report reveals that Rhode Island is doing a good job implementing education reform goals for it's 'Race to the Top' grant.

In August of 2010 the state was awarded $75 million in 'Race to the Top' funds.

More than a year later, the U.S. Department of Education released a study that Rhode Island, along with the District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee are all considered to be moving in the right direction with their respective education reform plans.

The report, however, says Rhode Island failed to make timely progress in addressing it's lowest achieving schools.

The delay has been blamed in part to leadership changes in Providence, the state's largest school district.

Massachusetts is being praised by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan as one of three states on schedule, making tremendous strides in the first year.

Massachusetts joins Maryland and Ohio.

Meanwhile, New York, Florida, and Hawaii are reportedly having significant issues implementing their education reforms, which could jeopardize their federal funds.

The $4.35 billion Race to the Top program is the Obama administration's signature school reform plan.