Earlier this week, five states announced plans to add a minimum of 300 extra hours to molding young minds in the classroom next year in hopes of strengthening the American student performance.

Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Tennessee will take part in a three-year pilot program devised to make the American school system more competitive. The goal is to expand the program into districts serving low-income families. Overall, the initiative will affect 40 schools and some 20,000 students.

While kids in these areas may not be too excited about the prospect of longer school days and years, education experts believe this initiative could be the first step in revamping the country's educational system. "The kind of results we'll see over the next couple of years, I think will compel the country to act in a very different way," said Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

Those involved with the pilot program believe that with students receiving more time with teachers, they will benefit from broader opportunities in a multitude of academic and enrichment programs.

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