Arne Duncan is going to announce the finalists in the second round of the Race to the Top tomorrow, the significance of which is?nothing. The Secretary is free to name as many states as he wishes, which is precisely what I suspect he'll do. Getting labeled a finalist is good for a state's governor (especially one in a tight re-election race*); the Administration also wants to make the case that the president's efforts have led lots and lots of states to embrace reform.
The actual number of winners will be limited by available funds. (Though not too limited.) But when it comes to the number of finalists, the sky's the limit.
-Mike Petrilli
* Say, Deval Patrick of Massachusetts or Ted Strickland of Ohio
