Pennsylvania is considered one of the long shots to nab federal Race to the Top funding by a nonprofit education advocacy group who analyzed the strengths and weakness of each of the 15 state and Washington D.C.'s finalist applications.

The Obama administration is expected to announce winners this afternoon, although the exact number or the amount given is not yet known. Pennsylvania applied for about $400 million, which would then be dispersed to the approximately 120 school districts and 59 charter schools that signed up, including five districts and three charters in York County.

The Center for Education Reform, based in Washington, D.C., gave Pennsylvania 10 to 1 odds to get Race to the Top Money.

Here's what they had to say about the Keystone State:

"Another surprise runner; (Pennsylvania) supports charters at the top, but allows locals to block their success; lofty goals for teacher evaluations may not be possible in the given time frame; may push hard at the top of the race, but whither in the final lap."

Colorado, Louisiana, Florida and Washington, D.C. are the expected front runners.

The money has lots of strings attached, including intensive school reform led by things such as teacher and administrator turnover and more comprehensive student evaluations. If Pennsylvania loses today, it can reapply for the second round of money, although more states are expected to apply at that point.

Here is the list of York County school districts and charters applying for Race to the Top participation:

---Central York

---South Western

---Southern York

---West York

---York City

---Crispus Attucks YouthBuild

---Lincoln Charter

---New Hope Academy