States to compete for extra stimulus dollars

[cal04]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090724/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_schools

States and school districts will soon be able to compete for $5 billion to undertake school reforms sought by President Barack Obama.

Part of the economic stimulus law enacted earlier this year, the $5 billion fund is Obama's big shot at overhauling schools over the next couple of years.

Obama and his education secretary, Arne Duncan, planned to lay out how states can win the money Friday at the Education Department.

The president will use the money to prod states to toughen academic standards and find better ways to recruit and keep effective teachers. To get the money, states will also need to be able to track student performance, and they will need a plan of action to turn around failing schools.

"I am unbelievably hopeful about the level of change we can drive and the amount of reform we're going to see," Duncan said Thursday in an interview with The Associated Press.

[GivePeaceAchance]

1. "Governors look under your seats."