The president is looking to expand pre-K programs, charter schools, and need-based college aid.

The president's proposed 2010 budget being released today would eliminate the Federal Family Education Loan Program by 2010. That would be a huge change—the equivalent of a nuclear bomb going off in the higher education loan world.

The education department expects to release formal guidance to states and school districts next week that will spell out how to access the money, and what the expectations will be.

Democratic leaders have been sitting on this bill for months, waiting for a Democratic president to sign it.

From guest blogger Erik Robelen: His office may be smaller, but Marshall (Mike) S. Smith, a veteran education official from the Clinton era, is back at 400 Maryland Ave. in downtown Washington. As of last month, Smith has returned to the Education Department's headquarters as a senior adviser to Secretary Arne Duncan. “I’m working with a team on the implementation of the stimulus package, which is a big part of my time, and other duties as requested by the secretary,” said Smith, who served as both the undersecretary and acting deputy secretary at the federal agency for seven years ...

Obama set a new goal--that by 2020, the United States will have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.

See how states and districts can spend their stabilization dollars.

After the excitement of the stimulus, Congress is finally getting back around to the regular budget bill for this fiscal year, which started back on Oct. 1.

The Democrats for Education Reform's stimulus suggestions give a good indication of how the school reform crowd might want the feds to use the stimulus dollars to leverage change.

Here's our second installment of answers to your stimulus questions.