The last time the federal government offered funds for education, the state of Texas, led by Gov. Rick Perry, declined to apply for the Race to the Top program. But federal authorities modified the program, allowing individual districts to apply, and this time 117 Texas districts and charter schools did just that. Of those, three charter schools and seven school districts are on the list of 61 finalists and are competing for four-year grants that range from $5 million to $40 million, depending on population. Schools qualified to apply if their populations included at least 40 percent low-income students, and unlike last time, they did not have to adopt common core curriculum standards, a sticking point for Perry. The governor continues to object to the program, on the grounds that schools do not need the burden of additional federal standards and guidelines.