TRENTON, N.J., Aug. 26 (UPI) -- The inclusion of incorrect financial information may have prevented New Jersey from receiving a federal education grant worth $400 million, critics say.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie admitted his administration failed to provide the proper information for federal funding from a program called Race to the Top, the Asbury Park (N.J.) Press said Thursday.
Christie said his staff contacted the U.S. Department of Education after it learned about the gaffe, but it was still penalized nearly five points in its application score. That was more than the difference between it and Ohio, which was the next lowest scoring state to get a grant, the newspaper said.
New Jersey's application contained budget figures for 2010 and 2011, rather than a comparison of figures for 2008 and 2009.
"This is the stuff that drives people crazy about government, about Washington," Christie said.
The oversight was not the only reason New Jersey failed to score more points in the application process, the report said.
The newspaper said an independent panel of reviewers reported the state's inability to win support of local school districts in support its application also cost it points.
