WASHINGTON (AP) -- On Monday, word came that Kentucky had lost out in the second round of the federal government's "Race to the Top." Late Thursday, the Education Department said Kentucky is among seven states which have won a share of $200 million in the third round of "Race to the Top" to improve K-12 education programs.

The winners are Arizona, $25.1 million; Colorado, $17.9 million; Illinois, $42.8 million; Kentucky, $17 million; Louisiana, $17.5 million; Pennsylvania, $41.3 million; and New Jersey, $37.9 million. The Obama administration has awarded billions of dollars in such competitions, to encourage changes in education that it favors.

The seven states competing in this round were all runners-up last year. The department has said it wants to encourage them to finish and carry out many of the changes proposed in their earlier applications.

Competing states committed to make changes such as improving principal and teacher evaluation systems, and turning around under-performing schools. They were asked to show specifically how they would improve science, technology, engineering and math instruction.