By Angela Hatton
Springfield, IL – Illinois school officials believe they have a better chance to tap into Race to the Top than they did in the first round of grants in March. Illinois has asked for 400 million dollars. State schools Superintendent Christopher Koch says the state has worked harder to get cooperation from local school districts and teachers' unions, since finishing fifth in the first round. Koch and Illinois education officials will emphasize their plans to better prepare school leaders for reform, when they visit Washington in August to make their pitch for a grant.