We need a new vision for a 21st century education — one where we aren’t just supporting existing schools, but spurring innovation; where we’re not just investing more money, but demanding more reform; where parents take responsibility for their children’s success; where our schools and government are accountable for results; where we’re recruiting, retaining, and rewarding an army of new teachers, and students are excited to learn because they’re attending schools of the future; and where we expect all our children not only to graduate high school, but to graduate college and get a good paying job.”- Barack Obama, Speech in Dayton, OH, September 9, 2008
At A Glance
High-Quality Zero-to-Five Early Education
Obama will launch a Children’s First Agenda that provides care, learning and support to families with children from birth up to five years old.
Reform No Child Left Behind
Obama believes that the goal of No Child Left Behind was the right one, but that it was written and implemented poorly and it has demoralized our educators and broken its promise to our children. Obama will fund No Child Left Behind and improve its assessments and accountability systems.
Improve K-12
Obama will improve our schools by recruiting well-qualified teachers to every classroom in America. Obama will improve teacher compensation by rewarding expert, accomplished teachers for taking on challenging assignments and helping teachers succeed. Obama also will reduce the high school dropout rate and close the achievement gap by investing in proven intervention strategies in the middle grades and in summer learning and afterschool opportunities. Obama and Biden will double funding for the Federal Charter School Program to support the creation of more successful charter schools.
Make Community College and College Education Affordable
Obama will create a new American Opportunity Tax Credit that will make tuition at the nation’s community colleges completely free and will cover up to two-thirds the cost of tuition at the nation’s public colleges and universities.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more on Barack Obama’s Education Plan
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/education/
Speech on Pre-K to 12 Education
http://www.barackobama.com/2007/11/20/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_34.php
Speech on College Affordability
http://www.barackobama.com/2007/11/07/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_31.php