Obama Plan Would Tie Title I to College-Career Standards

Washington

President Barack Obama told the nation’s governors Monday that he would like to make funding for districts under Title I—the flagship program of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act—contingent on states’ adoption of reading and math standards that prepare students for college or a career.

The proposal, which would be rolled into the administration’s still-emerging plan for reauthorization of the ESEA, would require states to either join with their counterparts in developing rigorous, common standards, or work with their institutions of higher education to set standards that would ensure high school graduates are ready to enter higher education or the workforce.

President Obama told governors gathered at the White House for the final portion of the National Governors Association’s winter meeting that there is an urgent need to beef up academic standards to ensure that students are ready to compete...