OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Gov. Mary Fallin and Oklahoma education officials say they plan to seek a $60 million federal grant to improve early childhood education in the state.

Fallin joined Superintendent Janet Barresi and Secretary of Education Phyllis Hudecki at a press conference Tuesday to announce they will submit an application for the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge program.

Fallin says Oklahoma already is a national leader in early childhood education programs, and that the grant application seeks to build on existing programs. She stressed the state doesn't want to create any new programs or risk having state funding requirements once the grant money runs out.

The application for the grant is due Oct. 19, and Barresi says the state will be notified by Jan. 1 if it receives the grant.