education

Education

"A world-class education is the single most important factor in determining not just whether our kids can compete for the best jobs but whether America can out-compete countries around the world. America's business leaders understand that when it comes to education, we need to up our game. That's why we’re working together to put an outstanding education within reach for every child"

Guiding Principles

Providing a high-quality education for all children is critical to America’s economic future. Our nation’s economic competitiveness and the path to the American Dream depend on providing every child with an education that will enable them to succeed in a global economy that is predicated on knowledge and innovation. President Obama is committed to providing every child access to a complete and competitive education, from cradle through career.

Progress

• On May 29, 2012 the Obama Administration announced that eight more states have agreed to implement bold reforms around standards and accountability, and will receive flexibility from the most burdensome mandates of No Child Left Behind, bringing to 18 the total number of states who have been granted waivers. In exchange for this flexibility, these states have agreed to raise standards, improve accountability, and undertake essential reforms to improve teacher effectiveness.
• On December 16, 2011 the Obama Administration announced that nine states -- California, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and Washington -- would receive grant awards from the $500 million Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge fund. The grants will support states in creating systems of high-quality early learning and development programs, developing new approaches to raising the bar across early learning centers, and closing the school readiness gap.
• On October 25, 2011, the Obama Administration announced a proposal to make managing student loan debt easier. “Pay As You Earn” will allow about 1.6 million borrowers the ability to cap their monthly payments at 10 percent of their discretionary income starting in 2012. The plan will also forgive the balance of borrowers’ debt after 20 years of payments.
• On September 23, 2011, President Obama announced that his administration would provide relief from the No Child Left Behind Act. The flexibility will help states move forward with education reforms that are based on rigorous college- and career-ready standards, state-developed accountability systems that reward progress and address achievement gaps, and meaningful educator evaluation systems that support increase student achievement.
• On August 8, 2011 President Obama directed Secretary Duncan to move forward with plans to provide flexibility to states who are looking for greater relief under the No Child Left Behind law. In September, 2011 President Obama announced the final package providing states the flexibility to make sure that every single child is getting an excellent education, making sure that they are ready for college and career, and that they are going to be competitive in a global economy.
• On July 18, 2011, President Barack Obama announced  four major commitments to education that take advantage of leading industry leaders' areas of expertise and the skills of their employees. President Obama’s “Educate to Innovate” campaign is designed to improve the participation and performance of America’s students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and includes efforts from the federal government and from leading companies, foundations, non-profits, and science and engineering societies to work with young people across America to excel in science and math.“
• On May 25, 2011 the Obama Administration announced a $500 million state level grant competition, the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge. States applying for grants will be encouraged to increase access to quality learning programs for vulnerable children across America. The Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services will jointly administer the program.
• On May 16, President Obama gave the commencement address to the Booker T. Washington Class of 2011, and stressed the importance of education in a highly competitive world. The Memphis, TN high school was the winner of the second annual Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge, which is designed to reward schools that best demonstrate how they are preparing students for college and a career.
• The President reiterated his commitment to improving American education and said his administration is focused on achieving reform, promoting responsibility and delivering results in a speech in Miami on March 4, 2011.
• President Obama signed an overhaul of the student loan program into law, doubling funding for Pell Grants and allowing for direct student loans.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act invested heavily in education both as a way to provide jobs now and lay the foundation for long-term prosperity.

• The Act includes $5 billion for early learning programs, including Head Start, Early Head Start, child care, and programs for children with special needs.
• The Act also provides $77 billion for reforms to strengthen elementary and secondary education, including $48.6 billion to stabilize state education budgets (of which $8.8 billion may be used for other government services) and to encourage states to:
• Make improvements in teacher effectiveness and ensure that all schools have highly-qualified teachers;
• Make progress toward college and career-ready standards and rigorous assessments that will improve both teaching and learning;
• Improve achievement in low-performing schools, through intensive support and effective interventions; and
• Gather information to improve student learning, teacher performance, and college and career readiness through enhanced data systems.
• The Act provides $5 billion in competitive funds to spur innovation and chart ambitious reform to close the achievement gap.
• The Act includes over $30 billion to address college affordability and improve access to higher education.

Focus on Early Childhood Education

The years before a child reaches kindergarten are among the most critical in his or her life to influence learning. President Obama is committed to providing the support that our youngest children need to prepare to succeed later in school. The President supports a seamless and comprehensive set of services and support for children, from birth through age 5. Because the President is committed to helping all children succeed – regardless of where they spend their day – he will urge states to impose high standards across all publicly funded early learning settings, develop new programs to improve opportunities and outcomes, engage parents in their child’s early learning and development, and improve the early education workforce.