By KRWG News
New Mexico – New Mexico is applying for $75 million in the second round of the U.S. Department of Education's Race to the Top competition to improve student performance.
The state Public Education Department said Thursday that New Mexico's application included a proposal to tie the evaluations of teachers and principals to student achievement, and provides for possible extra pay for "highly effective" educators.
Thirty-five states and the District of Columbia have submitted applications seeking a share of more than $3 billion in federal grants.
In the first round of the federal competition, Tennessee and Delaware were awarded $600 million.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.