DENVER (AP) -- Gov. John Hickenlooper says expanding school hours in four Colorado school districts can lead to dramatic changes to how students' and teachers' days are structured.

Hickenlooper made the remarks Monday during an announcement that Colorado was among five states participating in a three-year pilot program to add at least 300 hours of learning time to the calendar year in some schools starting in 2013.

Hickenlooper says Denver, Boulder, Jefferson and Adams school districts will start the longer hours impacting about 5,000 students. The Democratic governor says it will be an opportunity for the state to also look at changing how a school day is structured and what technology to use in teaching.

Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Tennessee are also participating.

Federal, state and district funds will cover costs.