Boise - The national push for greater high school rigor will raise its profile Tuesday and Wednesday (April 11 and April 12) when Oprah Winfrey hosts two shows dedicated to high school reform.
Tuesday's show will feature an exclusive interview with Bill and Melinda Gates. It will focus on the current state of American high schools and the implications for competitiveness internationally.
The second program, "Oprah's Special Report: American Schools in Crisis" airs the next day on Wednesday, April 12. That episode will profile several schools that are leading the way in innovative improvements.
Idaho recently attempted to increase academic rigor by raising high school graduation requirements, but the effort was delayed to gain further support.
"This is an important issue for Idaho and for our country," said Sue Thilo, State Board of Education member who chaired Idaho's high school taskforce. "I'm glad to see more and more national leaders talk about it - especially someone as well-known as Oprah."
Check your local listings for the times Oprah airs on television or check out http://www.oprah.com.
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