MONTGOMERY(AP) — Alabama is not a finalist for “Race to the Top” education grants from the federal government.

The U.S. Department of Education named 16 finalists Thursday in the competition for $4.35 billion in school reform grants.

Alabama was one of 41 applicants in the first round and the winners will be chosen in April. Gov. Bob Riley said he was disappointed but not surprised by the news, which means Alabama won’t have a chance to get $181 million.

He had been urging legislators to pass a bill to allow charter schools.

That would have given Alabama a better chance in the competition, which gave states higher marks for innovation.