Four Minnesota Democrats in Congress are pushing for Minnesota's latest "Race to the Top" education grant application, an attempt by the state to win $45 million in federal education funds.

The state filed its second application with the federal Department of Education last week to try to win a slice of $500 million in grant money the Obama administration is offering through Race to the Top, one of its key education initiatives. The state's application focused on improving early education.

Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar and Reps. Tim Walz and Keith Ellison, all Democrats, signed onto a letter included in the application, which emphasized the state's investment in programs like Head Start.

Republican Rep. John Kline, who is chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, has opposed to Race to the Top. "I think it was irresponsible of Congress to give [Secretary of Education Secretary Arne Duncan] $5 billion with no strings attached," Kline said in an interview last year with Dropout Nation. "Race to the Top did some pretty bold things and some of them were in line with the Republican agenda like expanding charter schools. Other parts can be problematic."

That state's application last week is for the third round of federal funding the Department of Education has offered through Race to the Top. Minnesota's 2010 bid for a share of the first $4 billion of grant money was unsuccessful, and the state did not apply for the second round of $700 million in funding.