Politician · policy

Barack Obama on Education

Strong K-12 & College Reform Advocate (strong)

TL;DR

Barack Obama strongly advocated for comprehensive education reform from preschool through college to ensure global economic competitiveness.

Key Points

He aimed for the U.S. to regain the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020, stating dropping out of high school was no longer an option as of his 2009 address.
The administration implemented the Race to the Top initiative, using incentives to encourage states to adopt higher academic standards and focus on college and career readiness.
He supported efforts to close achievement gaps, reform the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) away from unintended consequences of No Child Left Behind, and fortify STEM education.

Summary

Barack Obama viewed a high-quality education as an urgent national imperative and a prerequisite for success in the 21st-century global economy, not merely a pathway to opportunity. His administration focused on ensuring every child received a competitive education from birth through career entry, setting a goal for the U.S. to have the highest proportion of college graduates globally by 2020. Evidence of this commitment included historic investments through the economic recovery plan for early childhood education and expanding college affordability for millions.

Core to his strategy was comprehensive reform, particularly addressing K-12 shortcomings by promoting higher standards, improving teacher effectiveness through incentives and evaluations, and redesigning high schools to focus on college and career readiness, often through STEM and CTE initiatives. Furthermore, he sought to curb soaring higher education costs by reforming the student loan system and demanding better accountability and innovation from colleges regarding student outcomes and debt levels.

Key Quotes

If you think education is expensive, you should see how much ignorance is going to cost in the 21st century. It's going to be expensive.

Remarks on Education and the Economy at the University of Central Missouri July 24, 2013

When two-thirds of all new jobs require a higher education or advanced training, knowledge is the most valuable skill you can sell. It's not only a pathway to opportunity, but a prerequisite.

A Plan for Education: Remarks in Ohio September 9, 2008

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Barack Obama's main goal for American education?

Barack Obama's overarching objective for education was to ensure that the United States would once again lead the world in college completion rates by the year 2020. He believed a world-class education system was crucial for national economic competitiveness in the 21st century. This required action from early childhood through career training.

What actions did Barack Obama take regarding K-12 reform?

As president, Barack Obama advanced reforms in K-12 centered on establishing higher standards and better assessments to prepare students for college and careers. He invested resources to keep educators employed and launched initiatives like Race to the Top to spur systemic change in states. He also focused on turning around the lowest-achieving schools.

What did Barack Obama say about the cost of higher education?

Barack Obama addressed the soaring cost of higher education, advocating for ways to get a better return on investment for students and taxpayers. He reformed the student loan system to cap repayments based on income and pushed for college innovation that allowed students to graduate faster with less debt, citing models that partnered with industry.