NASHVILLE (AP) - Tennessee has been awarded a $1 million grant to fund innovative ways to improve the state's college completion rates.

Gov. Bill Haslam joined other state education officials Monday in making the announcement that Tennessee is one of 10 states to receive a grant from Complete College America, a national nonprofit organization. Thirty-three states applied for the grant.

Tennessee will use the funds to focus on three areas: help students determine the courses they need to earn their degree, develop tools for students and campuses to evaluate and award credit for prior learning and provide technical assistance to help institutions achieve their specific completion targets.

The Republican governor says the grant, in addition to other education reforms the state has implemented or proposed, shows "Tennessee really is trying to push forward."