Washington, DC - Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator for Colorado, issued the following statement after an announcement made today by the U.S. Department of Education that Colorado joins a select group of finalists for the Obama Administration's "Race to the Top" Competition:

"Colorado hasn't waited on Washington to make progress in our public schools or to implement the kind of changes we need to help our kids get ahead. But this announcement is further proof that Washington is starting to pay attention. By bringing teachers, parents and educators together to come up with a plan that works for our kids, we've developed an innovative approach that can serve as a model for the rest of the country to follow.

"Colorado's schools are headed in the right direction, and Race to the Top will help keep our schools on course to deliver results for our kids. The resources from Race to the Top will allow us to invest in reforms that will create the opportunity for every child in Colorado to meet their full potential."