California received an additional $22.4 million grant under the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge program on Friday.

California, one of nine states to win such a grant for early learning programs, was initially awarded $52.6 million in December 2011. Three-quarters of the grant money has been earmarked for developing a quality rating system for early childhood care and education programs that will be implemented in 16 counties.

“These systems will make information about the quality of child care programs readily available to parents and policymakers, and they help make sure systems have opportunities to improve when needed,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said in a statement.

Developing the quality rating system is taking longer than initially expected, according to a 2012 annual performance report, but progress has been made and the system is being tested in some counties. Much of the remaining grant money has been allocated to improving early childhood educator training and home visitor training.

California has not won Race to the Top money in any other category, though several districts in the state qualified for individual grants at the end of 2012.

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