President Barack Obama has packed a number of his campaign promises related to education into his "Race to the Top" program, which seeks to encourage innovative approaches to teaching and learning by having states compete for $4.35 billion worth of grants from the Department of Education. The program was funded through the Obama-backed economic stimulus package approved by Congress in February.

The grant program lists six priorities, and the third is "Innovations for Improving Early Learning Outcomes."

According to an executive summary of the Race the the Top Program from the Department of Education, "The Secretary is particularly interested in applications that include practices, strategies, or programs to improve educational outcomes for high-need students who are young children (pre-kindergarten through third grade) by enhancing the quality of preschool programs. Of particular interest are proposals that support practices that improve school readiness (including social, emotional, and cognitive); and improve the transition between preschool and kindergarten."

That speaks directly to this Obama campaign promise.

Competition for the "Race to the Top" grants will be conducted in two rounds -- the first starting this month and the second in June of next year -- with winners announced in April and September 2010.

Still, President Obama has set up the framework to achieve this promise. And so we move it to In the Works.