State Education Commissioner John King spent yesterday touring a number of districts in Westchester getting a close-up look at some unique programs.

One stop on King's tour was to see kindergarten students at the Daniel Webster Elementary School in New Rochelle immersed in a Spanish language class.

King is focusing on reforming New York's school system and instituting initiatives contained in the the federal "Race to the Top" program. He also believes in consolidating smaller school districts and creating larger regional schools.

Schools across the state and here in the Hudson Valley are struggling to educate children with smaller budgets and higher standards. More than 1,300 schools statewide have been added to a list of poor-performing schools.