Sometimes, states decide that accepting federal money is more trouble than it's worth. Analyze each real-life funding opportunity by answering the questions below.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY #1: EDUCATION

Situation: States have the authority to develop their own academic standards for each grade level and subject taught in schools. This means states have the freedom to develop standards based on their own priorities. In addition, states rely heavily on federal money to help fund education and schools.

Opportunity: A new federal grant will make $4.35 billion available to fund state education. States can compete to receive money from this fund. However, the federal government will give an advantage to states that adopt a common, challenging set of standards. In practice, this means the state must adopt one particular set of standards that has been developed nationwide rather than follow their own state's standards. Not everyone in the state agrees with the methods used in the national standards.

List reasons a state might accept the money

List reasons a state might not accept the money