DENVER -- Colorado, 18 other states and the District of Columbia have been named finalists in the second round of the federal "Race to the Top" school reform grant competition, giving them a chance to win a share of $3 billion.

Department officials provided the Associated Press with a list of the finalists ahead of a speech by Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

The states are: Arizona, California, Colorado, Washington, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and South Carolina.

States apply for the "Race to the Top" competition and are chosen based on whether they are making reforms to improve struggling schools and close the achievement gap.

Colorado lawmakers changed the state's tenure rules this year, requiring teachers to be evaluated annually.

Two states, Tennessee and Delaware, were awarded a total of $600 million in the first round.

Colorado placed 14th out of 16 finalists in the first round of competition in April. Colorado leaders were hoping to get $377 million. The board reviewing the applications said Colorado's plan oulined clear goals, but didn't explain how those goals would be implemented.