March 1 - Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools

Some of his promises already are in the works: Public schools will get an unprecedented amount of money - double the educationbudget under Bush - from the economic stimulus bill over the next two years. To get some of those dollars, Obama and Duncaninsist states will have to prove they are making good progress in teacher quality, on data systems to track how students learn andon standards and tests.After the scheduled event, Obama made a surprise visit with Duncan to a meeting of state school chiefs at a Washington hotel.Duncan said last Friday that states will get the first $44 billion by the end of the month.Obama also wants kids to spend more time in school, with longer school days, school weeks and school years - a position headmitted will make him less popular with his school-age daughters.Children in South Korea spend a month longer in school every year than do kids in the U.S., where the antiquated school calendarcomes from the days when many people farmed and kids were needed in the fields."I know longer school days and school years are not wildly popular ideas, not with Malia and Sasha," Obama said as the crowdlaughed. "But the challenges of a new century demand more time in the classroom.""If they can do that in South Korea, we can do it right here in the United States of America," Obama said.© 2009 Kansas City Star and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. http://www.kansascity.com