Race to the Top provided incentives for states to implement reforms focused on four key areas: standards and assessments, data systems, teacher/leader effectiveness, and turning around low-performing schools. It helped 19 states create plans around these areas and spurred changes to laws and standards in many other states. While No Child Left Behind increased achievement discussion, it had unintended consequences like incentivizing lower standards and focusing more on punishment than growth. The Obama Administration proposed a new blueprint to reform education by raising standards, recognizing growth, closing achievement gaps, and improving teacher/principal quality.

2.  Race to the Top offers bold incentives to states willing to spur systemic reform
to improve teaching and learning in America's schools. It has created
significant change in the education system, specifically in raising standards
and aligning policies and structures to the goal of college and career
readiness. Race to the Top has helped states achieve higher standards,
improve teacher effectiveness, use data effectively in the classroom, and
adjust their strategies to aid struggling schools. President Obama's plan has
helped 19 states to create plans which focus on four main areas of
Kindergarten through 12th grade education. The four areas of reform are:
 "Development of rigorous standards and better assessments
 Adoption of better data systems to provide schools, teachers, and parents
with information about student progress
 Support for teachers and school leaders to become more effective
 Increased emphasis and resources for the rigorous interventions needed to
turn around the lowest- performing schools"
 Forty- six states completed reform plans to complete in the Race to the Top
competition. 34 states have changed their education laws to facilitate needed
change and 48 states have collaborated to create a rigorous college and
career-ready standard education.

3.  While states attempt to improve education,
aspects of the most recent Elementary and
Secondary Education Act, known as No Child Left
Behind, prevent their progress. NCLB began a
national conversation about student
achievement, but unplanned consequences of
this act reinforced incorrect behaviors. NCLB
created incentives for states to reduce their
standards with an emphasis on punishing failure
over rewarding success, focus on absolute scores
rather than recognizing growth and progress,
and prescribed a pass-fail series of interventions
for schools that fail to reach their goals.

4.  In March of 2010, the Obama Administration submitted a
blueprint for the reform of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act to Congress, addressing the issues the No
Child Left Behind Act had created and focusing on closing
the achievement gap.
 Under the Administration's blueprint, state accountability
systems will raise the bar of students graduating from
twelfth grade to prepare them to excel in college and
careers. This system will also recognize and aid schools in
poverty areas and districts which show improvements in
their students success. By identifying and intervening in
schools, states will continue to focus on the education
gap. The blueprints suggest states and districts develop
meaningful ways of improving teacher and principal
effectiveness.

5.  Since Congress did not act to reauthorize ESEA, the
Administration created flexibility within the law to
establish comprehensive plans for improving education.
This flexibility will allow states, students, and teachers to
create and utilize effective methods to give children the
necessary skills for the future. States need to create
comprehensive systems of teacher and principal
development and a method to evaluate and support
students beyond test scores. States receiving waivers need
to set performance standards to improve classroom
achievement and close the gap in education. These states
also need to ensure accountability systems which
recognize schools with academic accomplishments and
schools who are making significant improvements while
targeting rigorous and comprehensive interventions for
low performing schools.

6.  President Obama has demanded improvements in STEM education to
improve America's educational standards. Expanding STEM education
opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds will allow children
to learn deeply and think critically in science and math. This
Administration promoted several successful STEM initiatives, specifically
prioritizing STEM education in the Race to the Top program and
Investing in Innovation Fund.
 The government has focused the STEM agenda in 2012 on two goals:
 Excellent teaching, with content knowledge, mastery of how to teach
that content, and ability to motivate students
 Improving undergraduate STEM teaching, setting a goal of producing
one million additional STEM degrees over the next decade
 In the pursuit of these goals, the President proposed the creation of a
national Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Master Teacher
Corps, including the nation's finest educators in STEM subjects.

7.  Obama believes education is important in
order to create a strong economy. A world-
class education system and high-quality job
training opportunities can improve America's
economy, advance business growth,
encourage new investment. Through
necessary investments, the Administration is
fostering the type of growth, innovation, and
transformation needed to improve schools
and reach better outcomes for high- need
students.

8.  This act is committed to taking on the difficult
work of closing the achievement gap and
improving America's lowest- performing schools.
It provides flexibility to states to develop new
and innovative policies which will produce high
outcomes in schools and better prepare students
to achieve higher standards. By strengthening
and expanding educational opportunities for
students, the government hopes to achieve the
goals the President set and provide a higher
education to all of America's students.

9.  President Obama and the Administration worked to
support teachers. Obama launched the RESPECT
Project, standing for Recognizing Educational
Success, Professional Excellence, and Collaborative
Teaching. His intention was to work with teachers,
school and district leaders, and state and national
education organizations to spark a dialogue that will
result in a transformation of the teaching profession.
To implement the principles of this program, the
Administration is proposing a five billion dollar grant
program to support states and districts that commit
to pursuing bold reforms at every stage of the
teaching profession. Once rigorous evaluations for
teachers and leaders are set, they can serve as a basis
for future education.