Afternoon Announcements: Federal Government Boosting Spending on High School Education

The President has focused a lot of attention on Pre-K, but a lesser talked about component of his proposed budget is the new $300 million competitive-grant program for high schools. The program is an opportunity to inspire innovation at the high school level. Education Week

The U.S. Department of Education is equipped to hand out another $490 million in Race to the Top grants for districts with impressive education-improvement plans, along with states to improve early-learning opportunities. Politics K-12

Remediation courses before college isn’t altogether uncommon, but in Colorado it is becoming increasingly more common. Almost 40% of Colorado’s high school graduates need remedial instruction before entering college. Denver Post

Would longer school days improve student achievement and outcomes? Analysis of extended day programs in New York City, New Orleans, and Baltimore suggest student performance in mathematics has improved with increased classroom time. Education Week