Obama focuses on education, offers $5 billion in grants

MADISON, Wis. — Pushing for a link between student test scores and teacher pay, President Barack Obama on Wednesday dangled $5 billion in federal grants to states willing to undertake a top-to-bottom overhaul of their schools in support of White House priorities.

The day after fellow Democrats lost gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia, Obama tried to turn attention to his education agenda, an area in which he has made significant progress. While the president said his first obligation was bringing the U.S. economy back from the brink of collapse, he added that long-term economic success can only be achieved by making investments in education.

“There is nothing that will determine the quality of our future as a nation or the lives our children more than the kind of education we provide them,” Obama said at a Wisconsin middle school.

Obama’s $787 billion economic stimulus bill included the education grants — the most money a president has ever had for overhauling schools — for which states can compete. Only Education Secretary Arne Duncan — not Congress — has control over who gets it. And only some states, perhaps 10 to 20, will actually get the money.

States can’t apply for the money yet, and relatively few may end up getting grants, but it’s a key incentive for Obama to push forward his education plan.

The administration can’t really tell states and schools what to do, since education has been largely a state and local responsibility throughout the history of the U.S. But the grants gives Obama considerable leverage.

2 comments

Your name

Mon Nov 9 2009 21:56

What is scary is the idea that Schools claim that when the student is on campus they supersede the parental role. They say so themselves. That "control" involves education, morality, health, etc. I don't know who said they could do that just because parents are working , etc. That is something the school districts took upon themselves. They can't supercede parental authority or control just because they are educating.

But if that child is endangered in health, safety, morality and their is injury, or risk the school districts don't take on liability.

So many administors, principals (some teachers) have no business being in education since they are more on power trips than education oriented.

Education is vital, and it is the best way to invest in America. Along with that investment, there needs to be the best people in charge of the students.

Your name

Sun Nov 8 2009 08:24

Maybe there should be a grant for parents who actually take the time to raise their children to become better citizens. Schools nowadays have pretty much taken over the role of a parent. All of the programs schools have now... breakfast, lunch, and dinner to students. Why not just get a cot for each student and then the parents won't have anything to worry about? When are the parents going to be held accountable? This is a bandaid to a much bigger problem.

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