By Jacque Day
Frankfort, Ky. – The U.S. Department of Education plans to announce Phase II finalists for Race to the Top Tuesday at 1 PM Eastern Time. Kentucky DOE communications director Lisa Gross says now, it's a matter of waiting. She says, Kentucky education commissioner Dr. Terry Holliday's is "very optimistic" about the commonwealth's Phase II plan. Kentucky was a finalist for Race to the Top Phase I last March, but fell short, in part due to a deficiency in charter schools legislation. Gross says, the U.S. DOE could announce final winners as early as mid-August.