Ohio striving for more federal education money

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio is scrambling to make more changes in its education system to compete for $5 billion in federal education stimulus money.

Gov. Ted Strickland believes the state is already competitive largely because of new teacher residency and training requirements approved with the state budget.

But lawmakers are pushing for more changes to help the state win part of President Barack Obama’s “Race to the Top” fund.

A different kind of competition could make education revisions tricky. A Senate proposal is being pushed by Republican Jon Husted, while a House bill is being pushed by Democrat Jennifer Garrison.

The two are running against each other in 2010 for the coveted position of secretary of state, Ohio’s top elections official.