Offering a specific plan for education, Barack Obama pledged three goals.

A primary goal is to fund “No Child Left Behind” as originally intended, improving student assessment standards and supporting schools that need improvement. The plan is to improve education by recruiting, preparing and retaining quality teachers. Teacher Service Scholarships for recruits would cover up to four years of undergraduate study or two years at graduate school. All education colleges would have to be accredited and graduates would take a national competency examination.

Obama plans to invest in early childhood education by greatly expanding Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Providing affordable, high-quality child care would ease burdens on working families.

A plan has been announced to increase college attendance and reduce the cost of higher education through a $4,000 tax credit. It would likely cover two thirds of average tuition costs at public colleges and universities or make community colleges completely tuition free. Recipients would be required to donate community service.

Posted on Friday, December 5th, 2008 at 10:38 am in Education.