WASHINGTON, March 15 (UPI) -- Changing education laws will aid state and local efforts to help ensure students graduate ready for college and a career, the U.S. Education Department said.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of some top education companies were mixed at the close of trading: Apollo Group rose $.19 or .3 percent, to $63.21. Career Education rose $.20 or .7 percent, to $30.89. DeVry fell $.34 or .5 percent, to $66.09. Strayer Education fell $1.50 or .6 percent, to $243.99.

Florida's education team, led by Gov. Charlie Crist, will make its pitch Tuesday in Washington for why the state should get a whopping $1 billion piece of a $4 billion federal grant intended to reward states for pursuing aggressive school reform.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of some top education companies are down at noon: Apollo Group fell $.32 or .5 percent, to $62.70. Career Education fell $.32 or 1.0 percent, to $30.37. DeVry fell $.76 or 1.1 percent, to $65.67. Strayer Education fell $2.77 or 1.1 percent, to $242.72.

The Obama administration's plan to make major changes to the 2002 No Child Left Behind education law is getting mixed reaction from educators.

Wiley: Sex education a health issue, not a morality issue

NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of some top education companies are down at 10 a.m.: Apollo Group fell $.14 or .2 percent, to $62.88. Career Education fell $.25 or .8 percent, to $30.44. DeVry fell $.36 or .5 percent, to $66.07. Strayer Education fell $1.01 or .4 percent, to $244.48.

A fugitive in hiding for more than a decade pleaded guilty Monday to fleecing the government out of millions in education and poverty grants.