The U.S. Education Department says New Jerseyis one of seven states that have won a share of $200 million in federal "Race to the Top" dollars.

The funds are used to improve their K-12 education programs.

Last year, New Jersey lost $400 million because of an administrative error on the application.

The Obama administration has awarded billions of dollars in such competitions to encourage changes in education that it favors. The seven states competing in this round were all runners-up last year. The department has said it wants to encourage them to finish and carry out many of the changes proposed in their earlier applications.