LAS VEGAS -- The blame for Nevada’s failed attempt to receive federal “Race to the Top” education dollars is being tossed around like a tether ball at recess.

Sen. Harry Reid is blaming Gov. Jim Gibbons, and Gibbons is returning the blame, both saying the other didn’t do enough to secure funding for the state’s cash-strapped schools.

But Elaine Wynn, one of two people in charge of the state’s application for the federal funds, said it is everyone in Nevada’s fault that Nevada didn’t secure $175 million it was eligible for.

“If they want to understand who is responsible for the state of education in Nevada, than they should look in the mirror,” Wynn said. “This is something that we should all own.”

Instead of laying out a concise plan to reform schools in Nevada, the application itself is riddled with phrases such as “It has been uncomfortable to think outside the box” and “to implement the four strategies for education reform, Nevada will strengthen, scale up and sustain a greater capacity for successful implementation.”

Wynn defended the application.

“That in, and of itself, is not an inflammatory statement,” Wynn said. “I think that that happens to be a statement that could explain innovation.”

Meanwhile, school officials said they are disappointed that the money fell through at a time when more cuts loom to the state’s education budget.

“You would love to have every available dollar to be awarded as is possible to supplement what it is you can offer from the state,” Clark County School Board Trustee Terri Janison said.

The state paid a consultant $40,000 to handle the application.

Nineteen states that were named finalists for the federal funding, and only 13 will receive a share of a $3 billion fund.

In March, Gov. Jim Gibbons signed the state’s Race to the Top bill, making the state eligible to compete. However, Nevada was again left behind, as the second round of finalists was named.

Arizona, California, Colorado, Washington, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and South Carolina are on the list.

Nevada did not apply for the first round of funding, which was awarded to Tennessee and Delaware.

In a series of statements that followed Tuesday's announcement Nevada would not be receiving the funds, Gibbons and Reid tried to shift the blame for the state's tough luck.

"While governors from other states were aggressively working to pass new reform laws and position their states to take advantage of these important funds, our governor was satisfied with only meeting the minimum requirement to file our application," Reid said.

"Reid has never lifted a finger to help us while we applied for these special federal funds for education," Gibbons fired back. "Harry Reid was asleep at the switch again when the teachers, parents, children and families of Nevada needed his help."

FOX5 wants to know what you think about Nevada losing out on "Race to the Top" dollars. Send your comments to THE RANT and hear the responses weeknights on FOX5 News at 10.