Dodd and his education plan...

With his scheduling changing often and quickly today, U.S. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd took advantage of some down time to pitch his education plan to reporters on a teleconference call at 11 a.m. today.

Dodd unveiled his proposal to revamp the nation's education system by lowering college costs for students and enhancing public education for K-thru-high school, including universal preschool for every four-year-old, during his New Hampshire visit this week.

It has been the key point he's stressed at nearly every stop during the trip.

This is a summary of what he is proposing:

Dodd's K-12 plan would:
* Provide for universal preschool so that every parent has access to high-quality, affordable preschool
* Reform No Child Left Behind by providing states with the flexibility to use multiple measures to calculate student achievement and allowing schools to target resources such as tutoring to the students who need them most.
* Put experienced, quality teachers In Every School by doubling the number of nationally board certified teachers and incentivizing them to go where they are needed most - low performing, high poverty schools.

Dodd's higher education plan would:
* Reform the student loan system to ensure federal dollars go to student aid instead of corporate profits.
* Raise Pell Grants and reduce the cost of college student loans.
* Provide an opportunity for free community college to every American

Dodd's first public appearence on this third day of his four-day visit to the Granite State is slated for later this afternoon in Nashua.