Seventy-four of Louisiana’s 77 charter schools want to take part in the state’s bid for up to $300 million in a federal contest.
Those schools are in addition to 29 of the state’s 70 school districts that joined the competition, which is called “Race to the Top.”
Charter schools are public schools that are supposed to offer innovative techniques without much of the red tape that traditional schools face.
About 31,000 students attend the schools in Louisiana.
The federal contest offers $4.4 billion to about a dozen states that provide what federal officials consider innovative education systems.
The deadline for applications is today.
Winners will be announced in April and September.
