'Critical Ingredient'

" It's great to be back in Madison great to be back in Wisconsin. And I've heard great things about. Right so I've got very high expectations for all the students here and I told members. I expect them to keep. The good work that. You weren't importing -- to make sure you succeed not just in middle school but also the high school also in college. And for the rest your lives. And parents I want to stay off."

" Because. Because that is -- an absolutely critical. Ingredient for their success. -- one year ago. Americans all across this country want to the polls and cast ballots for the future they want to see. And it."

" Election -- with a bit of hope there was very possibility -- there was also a sobering. Because we know even -- that we faced an array of challenges that would test us as a country. We already -- that there was a financial crisis. That threatened to plunge our economy into a Great Depression. But worse that we've seen. In generations. We -- record Apple's. Two wars. Frayed alliances around the world. Basing this reality. My administration had two fundamental obligations. The first was. To rescue the economy from imminent collapse. And while we still have a long way to go we have made meaningful progress. Toward achieving that goal. We acted boldly and swiftly to -- recovery act that has made. A difference for families right here in Wisconsin -- Jim. Your governor described the difference that -- we put a tax cut into the pockets of 95%. Of hardworking families. We created or saved. Over one million jobs including 4000 education jobs right here in Wisconsin. We've taken steps unlock our frozen credit markets so that you. Ordinary American can get the loan that he or she needs to buy a home or car. To go to college or start a new business. We've enacted measures to stem the crisis and our housing market. To help responsible homeowners. Stay in their homes and for the decline of home values overall. So all these things. Contributed to the first quarter of economic growth. That we've had as a nation in over a year. The rate of job losses slowing although not nearly fast enough yet. The work continues but we're moving in the right direction and we are gonna keep -- Fulfilling our obligation to do every single thing we possibly can pull this economy out of the bitch. And to make sure that people can find jobs that pay good wages that's our top priority."

" So that so that --"

" The rescue part of our job."

" To solving the immediate crisis. We also came and office -- another -- another obligation. Not simply to do. What needed to be done to deal with an emergency crisis. But to make those long term investments necessary to build our economy stronger than before. It was an obligation to tackle. Problems that have been festering problems that have been kicked down the road year after year decade after that. Problems that have to be overcome. For America to move forward. -- even before the crisis. We were having big problems we were just papering -- Manufacturing was declining and we weren't producing as many high tech high skill jobs as we needed to be. We had an energy situation where suddenly -- producers or speculators. One constrict supply and next thing you know you're paying four bucks at the -- so we didn't have energy independence. Health care costs -- Before the crisis. So that families were saying more and more out of pocket costs. And essentially trading away salary and wages just to keep up with the -- so we have an obligation to create a better health care system that works for our people our businesses and our government like. That's why."

" And that's why they've been pushing so hard on edge on on health care reform. That's why we took up the -- of a clean energy economy that -- free America from the grip of foreign oil and generate millions of good paying jobs in the process green jobs and retrofitting old buildings to make them more energy efficient creating that the batteries and and other technologies. Needed for plug in hybrids that can get a 150 miles a gallon. And -- help to curb climate change. And that's why. We're talk taking up the cause that I'm here to talk about today and that is offering the best possible education. --"

" American prosperity. As long -- student. On how well we educate our -- but this has never been more true than it is today. In -- first century when countries that out educate us. Today will out compete us tomorrow. There is nothing that will determine the quality of our future as a nation and the lives there are children will lead. More bad the kind of education we provide. Nothing's. More important. And here's what we don't. Over the course of a lifetime those. With a college degree and I want. The young people -- Over the course of -- those with a college degree murder over 60%. More. Then those -- only a high school diploma. 60% -- Most of the fastest growing jobs require a bachelor's degree or more. What we're talking about earlier in the classroom. Four out of every ten new jobs will require at least some advanced. Education or training within the -- night. So put simply the right education. Is a prerequisites for success there was -- time. When if you just got a high school education and you won't work hard you can get a job. And in the trader at the factory that paid a middle class wage. Those days are declining. The currency of today's economy is knowledge. And yet. We continue to trail. Other countries in a number of critical areas. The United States. A nation that has always led the way in innovation. Is now being outpaced in math and science education. A handful of states have even gone in the wrong direction. Lowering their standards of the very moment but they should be raising. We -- number one. In the number of college graduates and advanced degrees that's not the case anymore. Meanwhile African American Latino students. Continue to lag behind their white classmates. And achievement gap that will ultimately cost us hundreds of billions of dollars because. That's our future workforce. Of course these problems aren't new we've heard about them for years. But instead of coming together to assault them."

" We've let partisanship and petty bickering. Stand in the way of progress it's been Democrat versus Republican."

" It's -- Democrat versus Republican. -- been about Herbert versus. Public schools it's been more. Money versus more reform. In some cases people have seen schools airs sort of a political. -- do with jobs and contracts instead -- what were teaching kids. The status quo has held back our children. It's held back our economy. And its held back our country for two all."

" It's time to -- to do to stop just talking about education reform and start actually don't. It's time to make education America. National -- certain banks -- one of the best. -- education America has ever had Arnie Duncan who's here today set up on their location."

" And understanding of these issues and ability to bring people together that's exactly what we're gonna do we are making. This America's national match. Improving our schools. Not unrealistic way is not an abstract -- pie in the sky ways in concrete ways. We are we are putting our resources behind. The kinds of reforms that are gonna make a difference. In the coming weeks states will be able to compete. For what were calling it a race to the top -- We're -- over four billion dollars on the tape. Four billion would be one of the largest investments. That the federal government has ever made in education reform. But we're not just handing it out -- states -- they want -- we're not just handing out based on population. It's not just going through the usual political formula. We're challenging states to compete for. And I -- to tell you this was not an easy thing to get through congress this is not normally how. Federal dollars work. But because -- tenacity and our commitment to make sure the reform happens. That's how -- structure were saying to states if you are committed to real change. In the way you educate your children. If you're willing hold yourself more accountable. And if you develop a strong plan to improve the quality of education in your state that will offer you. A big threat to help you make that plan a real. Now before -- state is even eligible to compete they'll have to take an important first step. And this caused some controversy in some places but it shouldn't be controversial. Any state that has a so called fire wall wall. We'll have to remove them now here's what a firewall -- is it basically says that you can't. Factor in the performance of students when you're evaluating teachers. That is not. A good message in terms of accountable. So we -- you've got one of those lost you wanna compete for these grants. You gotta get rid of them. And will encourage states to take a better approach. When it comes to Charter Schools and other innovative public schools. When these schools are performing poorly they'll be shut down but when innovative public schools are succeeding. They should be stifled they should be supportive and I'm proud to say -- already a number of states have taken us up on the shelves across the country. Different groups are coming together to bring about change in our schools. Teachers unions and parent groups businesses and community organizations. In in places like new -- educators and city leaders come together to find a smarter way to evaluate teachers and turnaround. Low performing schools. And states like California and Indiana and Wisconsin. You're saying steps taken to remove these so called firewall laws so we can have a clear look at how well our children are learning and what can be done. To help them learn better. States like Delaware and Louisiana Tennessee and -- are all making efforts to let innovative Charter Schools for. So -- raced to the top. Has begun in our schools. But the real competition will begin when states apply for the actual race to the top -- street they they had to. Make some changes that even join the race. Another race starts. And we're gonna start seeing even more interesting changes at the local -- The world take a hard look at states applications to determine whether they measure up. We'll take a look -- look at the states track record to determine whether the steps they've taken have had real results when it comes to they're students education. We'll take a look at whether states are taken an all hands on deck approach when it comes to reform. And particular will take a look at how states are doing when it comes to four key measures of reform now I wanna give us some details about this. Because. Because I want you as parents. As well be educators to understand. What the data in the science. And the studies in the research show actually make a big difference in terms school improvement. And that because that's what -- basing this up while we didn't just got to make it up. It didn't just do it of the sounded good this is this is what the research shows is really gonna make a difference the first measure is whether a state is committed. To setting higher standards and better assessments that prepare our. Children to succeed in the -- percent. I'm pleased to report that 48 states are now working to develop internationally. Competitive stance. Internationally competitive standards because these young people are going to be growing up in an international. Environment. Where. You know they're competing not just against kids and Chicago or. Los Angeles for job -- competing invasion against folks in Beijing. And and Bangalore. That's something I called for earlier this year I wanna commend the leadership of the governors. And school -- are joined together to get this done. Because of his efforts. There will be a set of common standards. That any state can adopt beginning early next year. And I urge all our states to do so and to upgrade what's taught in the quest from accordingly to meet these international spent. Health jealous states tool align their assessments. With -- experience. Because we should. We should not just raise the bar we should prepare markets to me there's no point haven't really -- standard but we're not doing what it takes to meet those standards. And and I want to be clear that this is not just about more tests because I know -- in the past people have been concerned about. You know is this about standardized tests or -- we gonna have our young people T being talked to the test that's the last thing we want. What we want to do."

" What we were."

" We want to do is finally get testing right. But not about more tests about being smarter about -- About measuring not only whether our kids can master the basics. But whether they can -- challenging tasks. They have the the the skills like critical thinking and teamwork and entrepreneur warship. Assessment but don't just give us a snapshot of how a student is doing in a particular subject but a big picture look at how they're learning overall. And assessments that will help tell us if markets have the knowledge in the skills to thrive when they graduate. That's -- were not of interest didn't commit a lot of bubble. What we wanna do with it is to take a look generally our our our kids learning that and and gaining the critical. Thinking skills that they need to succeed. And these are the kinds of assessments that are states should be putting in place -- we're setting up a separate competition. Where they can -- grants extra grants to help them do just that. So standards and assessments. At the first message are we doing that well if the state wants to get race the top -- the got to do that. And because we know that from the moment our kids that are a school the most impact -- important factor in their success. Other than their parents. If the person's standing in front of the classroom the teacher. The second measure is whether a state is committed to putting effective teachers in its classroom and effective principals at the Helm of the schools. Now it's time to start taking this committee considers. We've got to do a better job recruiting and preparing new teachers. Got to do a better job up rewarding. Outstanding teachers. And I'm going to be -- we've got to do a better job boot moving bad teachers -- the classroom. Once they've been given an opportunity for. That -- creating alternative. Alternate pathways to teaching for talented young people by expanding programs like the one used in Boston where. Aspiring teachers worked side by side. -- effective mentors in a yearlong residents. It means bringing quality teachers in. It means bringing quality teachers to the neighborhoods that need them the ball. But right now a lot of what happens is is that some of the best teachers if they get seniority. They move on to places. That school districts that pay better. And frankly are easier to teach and we've got to give them some sort of the state so that the kids who need the most help are getting some of the --"

" And --"

" the number. The numbers of quality teachers who can help our special education and English and English language learners meet high standards and you've done that -- your right so. Congratulations on that. It means of probate instruction in science technology. Reading -- And ensuring that more women and people of color are doing well in most subjects."

" President Obama speaking on education in Madison Wisconsin."