Iowa and Tennessee vote to adopt common standards and North Dakota moves forward in making their decision.

In a speech to the National Urban League, President Obama defended the $4.35 billion Race to the Top program, Education Week reports.

The Boston Globe editorial staff questions some change-ups in the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

A The Denver Post editorial speculates on Race to the Top winners and writes that Colorado, “is on strong footing to be one of the dozen or so states that walk away with cash in September.”

Earlier this month, Alliance President Bob Wise appeared on “Focus Washington” to discuss the results from the Alliance’s poll on voter attitudes heading into the 2010 congressional elections.

During the program, Wise discussed the crowded congressional calendar, but stressed that the American public wants Congress to improve the quality of public high schools through the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, currently known as No Child Left Behind.

A flurry of stories today on state’s reactions to the announcement of the Race to the Top finalists. The Christian Science Monitor points out that, “Perhaps the biggest surprise on that list is Arizona, which, in Round 1 of the competition, finished 40th out of 41 applicants.”

After Michigan failed to make the cut, teacher union leaders wonder if the state should repeal some of the education reforms that were a part of the Race to the Top application.

In a speech at the National Press Club this afternoon, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced that nineteen finalists remain to compete for the $3.4 billion available in the second round of the Race to the Top program. A total of thirty-five states and the District of Columbia applied for the second round of the competition and the winners are expected to be announced in September.

The finalists include Arizona, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and South Carolina.

The Department of Education announced today that 19 states have been named finalists for more than $3 billion available in the second round of funding in the Race to the Top program. The 19 finalists are: Arizona, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and South Carolina.

A few weeks ago, the Alliance released a bipartisan national public opinion poll on the need for immediate education reform. Among other things, the poll found that improving the quality of public high schools through the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act is a voting issue for over eight in ten voters. Several outlets picked up on the results including the Medill News Service,  the Florida Times-Union,  and EduFlak.

The Contra Costa Times reports that California could adopt the common core state standards.

In Alaska, state education officials are developing a merit scholarship program for high school students who stay in the state for college or technical school.

In a National Journal cover story, Ronald Brownstein writes about “two of the biggest demographic trends reshaping the nation in the 21st century”–the nonwhite population of young people and the overwhelmingly white older generation, or, as he calls them, the gray and the brown.

According to the College Board, the United States has dropped back from first place to twelfth place among 36 other developed nations in the number of 25- to 34 year olds with college degrees.

Summer break is no longer a luxury that American school children can afford, according to a recent story in TIME Magazine.