Perdue: N.C. will get $400 million

Gov. Bev Perdue said the state will receive about $400 million in federal money from the Race to the Top competition.

“North Carolina’s children today are one step closer to being guaranteed the best public education possible – something every child deserves," Perdue said in an announcement about the win. "This grant will give us the resources to more aggressively implement our plan to ensure that all of our children graduate ready for a career, college or technical training."

The money will be used in part to pay for Perdue's program, dubbed "Career and College: Ready, Set, Go!"

That includes money to recruit and retain teachers and administrators; a turnaround plan for low performing schools and technology used to track student progress in the classroom.

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan will talk to reporters about the the grant competition this afternoon.

"I thank Sec. Duncan for recognizing North Carolina’s ability to lead in education reform, and I thank everyone who worked so hard to make this possible,” Perdue said.

Perdue and state education leaders traveled to Washington earlier this month to make a pitch for the money.