By AP/KWMU
Springfield, Ill – Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich promises to lay out an ambitious education agenda in his second annual State of the State Address on Thursday.
Blagojevich says he is unhappy with the State Board of Education and wants to change the way it spends money and oversees programs.
He says some of the changes he wants would require amending the state Constitution. That suggests he may seek direct control over the board and the state superintendent.
The governor has been revealing some of his proposals in advance of the speech.
They include requiring community service by high school students, giving books to young children and spending $15 million to hire reading specialists for failing schools.