Annenberg Considers Expanding Reform Grants to Smaller Cities

By Meg Sommerfeld

Small and midsize cities may become the next beneficiaries of school-reform support from philanthropist Walter H. Annenberg.

A new report suggests that the retired publisher may expand his original $500 million pledge to America's public schools beyond mostly large urban school systems.

When Mr. Annenberg first announced the "Annenberg Challenge" nearly two years ago, he said he would focus on the nine largest urban school systems. So far, he has given about $200 million to Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, and the...