Progress

  • Improved access to and quality of early education so every child is prepared to start school.
    Read about improving early childhood education: http://wh.gov/FkN
  • Challenged states to develop innovative approaches to raise student achievement through a competitive process that costs less than 1% of what our nation spends on education.
    Read about: Race to the Top
    Read about Race to the Top: http://wh.gov/DUeh
  • Provided 33 states and the District of Columbia flexibility from No Child Left Behind while raising student achievement standards, improving school accountability, and increasing teacher effectiveness.
    Read about No Child Left Behind flexibility waivers: http://wh.gov/02m
  • Supported grants to help states transform the 5,000 lowest performing schools in the country into safe environments where students can learn
    Read about Title I School Improvement Grants: http://wh.gov/FkN
  • Provided relief to states that helped keep hundreds of thousands of teachers on the job in the face of budget cuts and proposed funding to support additional education jobs.
    Read about keeping teachers on the job: http://wh.gov/4BRr
Race to the Top

What's Next

  • Reform K-12 education funding by encouraging states to adopt higher standards, and improving teaching and learning assessments.
    Read about President Obama's 2013 Budget: Education: http://wh.gov/Fkn
  • Encourage innovation in education. Continue funding competitions that increase student success and prepare students for college and careers.
    Read about innovative education reforms: http://wh.gov/FkQ
  • Invest in the next generation of scientists and engineers. Improve science, technology, engineering and math education and expand programs that expose kids to opportunities in those fields.
    Read about: STEM Education
    Read about STEM Education: http://wh.gov/FkU
  • Put a great teacher in every classroom. Attract, prepare, support and reward effective teachers and school leaders, and reduce teacher shortages in STEM subject areas.
    Read about President Obama's 2013 Budget: Education: http://wh.gov/FkP
A great teacher can raise lifetime earnings of a single class of students by an estimated $250,000