Shamokin Area School District officials did not apply for the Race to the Top federal grant which would have brought the district a million additional federal dollars for improving student academic achievement. To participate the administration, school board and teachers' union were required to sign an agreement to prioritize improving student academic success. In Pennsylvania, 120 public school districts and 56 charter schools agreed to participate. Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant. According to then Governor Rendell, failure of districts to agree to participate was cited as one reason that Pennsylvania was not approved for the grant.