Public high schools get chance to win Obama commencement appearance

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Unlike colleges, high school commencements often have to settle for minor celebrities and former graduates whose fame is local at best.

Now high schools have a chance to snare a Nobel Prize-winning president of the United States.

The White House on Friday announced that public high schools will have a chance to win President Obama as a commencement speaker this spring. To win the contest, the school must demonstrate how it is best helping prepare students to fulfill Obama’s goal of having the United States lead the world in college graduates.

“Public schools that encourage systemic reform and embrace effective approaches to teaching and learning help prepare America’s students to graduate ready for college and a career,” Obama said in a video announcing the competition, called The Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge.
Education is one of the administration’s high-priority issues. Obama has pitched for more aid to all levels of schools and has called for an increase in federal funding for education.

Applications to win the Obama speech must be submitted by M arch 15. Details are at whitehouse.gov/commencement.

-- Michael Muskal

Twitter.com/LATimesmuskal