NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Department of Education is giving local school districts $8 million in federal education funds.

The money will be awarded to 83 districts that have chosen to participate in the First to the Top Scope of Work Supplemental Fund. The funds are part of the more than $500 million the state won three years ago in the national Race to the Top education grant competition.

Officials say the districts chose to implement at least one innovative program or strategy in three categories: teacher evaluation, implementation of the common core state standards and student assignment.

These areas reflect priorities of the state's Race to the Top grant.

The districts have chosen strategies such as conducting the February writing assessments online in grades 3-11 and using two observers for at least one of a teacher's mandatory observations.