HONOLULU — Hawaii Congressman Neil Abercrombie is backing Hawaii’s application for as much as $75 million in federal Race To The Top funding for the state’s public schools.

The island Democrat is urging federal officials to look beyond Hawaii’s furlough Fridays for teachers and judge the state’s application on its own merit.
Abercrombie noted Tuesday that Assistant U.S. Secretary of Education Peter Cunningham was disappointed Hawaii chose to meet its budget shortfall by furloughing teachers.
But Abercrombie says the decision, which he called “unfortunate,” shouldn’t affect Hawaii’s Race to the Top funding application.
Race to the Top is a competitive federal grants program established to encourage and reward states that create conditions for education innovation and reform.