In an effort to substantially elevate the standards of public education in America, President Obama and the Department of Education announced a “Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge,” which encourages children to raise their scholastic performances, with President Obama as the ultimate prize for their efforts.
“Public schools that encourage systemic reform and embrace effective approaches to teaching and learning, help prepare America’s students to graduate ready for college and a career, and enable them to out-compete any worker, anywhere in the world,” said President Obama in a video released today. “This is your opportunity to show me why your school exemplifies the best that our education system has to offer.”
This campaign is part of Obama’s goal for America to have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020. At the beginning of the school year, Obama encouraged prep students to take responsibility for their education, study hard and graduate from high school. The Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge encourages “schools to show how they are making great strides on personal responsibility, academic excellence and college readiness,” the statement says.
“The Race to the Top Commencement Challenge is an amazing opportunity for our nation’s high schools to share their accomplishments and aspirations,” said Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “I look forward to hearing about the many dedicated principals, teachers and parents who work tremendously hard to ensure and promote academic excellence, and I look forward to hearing about the many students across this country who are putting their education first and taking responsibility for their future.”
The president and Duncan are asking schools to complete applications, replete with video and other material proving why they exemplify the best in public education, by March 15. Six finalists will be selected by the White House and Department of Education and be featured on the White House Web site. The public will participate in voting for the three schools they believe best meet the president’s goal. President Obama will select the winner from the three schools and deliver the commencement address to their 2010 graduating class.
–terry shropshire
