The Department released the list of states that have submitted letters indicating their intention to apply in the first RTT round. ??I'm less surprised that there are 36 states (more than some expected) than by some of the names not on the list. Those who haven't sent in letters include:
Alaska, DC, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Washington
Some of these make sense. Maine, Maryland, Nevada, and Washington had suggested or outright announced that they would skip this round. Michigan is trying to pass some reform-oriented laws as we speak. I haven't heard much from Alaska, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, or Vermont.
The surprises are DC, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Texas. Each has some or much going for it and/or has given indications that it was all ahead full (even though Texas isn't happy about RTT's national standards component, it has seemed content to apply and make its case).
This list isn't final; states can still send in notice and some on the list may decide to take a pass. But if these four states, Rhode Island in particular, don't apply the first time around, it would be unexpected.
UPDATE: See comment below. It looks like RI is in.
UPDATE II: See comment below. It looks like DC is in, too.
--Andy Smarick