Original sentence: In fact, the use of common performance standards counted for 20 points out of a possible 500 total points.Virginia had finished 31st out of 41 states in the first round, but McDonnell did not believe that Virginia should apply for the second round because he believed the competition required the use  of multi-state education performance standards instead of Virginia's current standards
Edited sentence: " The use of common performance standards counted for 20 points out of a possible 500 total points.After making the withdrawal announcement, McDonnell told reporters, "We can't go back.All the education leaders have a comfort level with those.McDonnell did not believe that Virginia should apply for the second round because doing so would require the use of multi-state education performance standards instead of Virginia's current standards.Our standards are much superior.So once again, a federal mandate to adopt a federal common core standard is just not something I can accept.They're validated.They're well accepted.Virginia had finished a "disappointing" 31st out of 41 states in the first round.We've been working on this for 15 years