Obama Emphasizes College Readiness in Meeting With Governors

At a meeting of the nation’s governors today, President Obama praised an initiative to develop “college- and career-ready standards,” which he plans to make a centerpiece of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act when it comes before Congress for renewal. His plan would require states to adopt such standards in order to be eligible for federal Title I funds and would encourage all players — including teachers colleges — to help align schools toward the standards. Mr. Obama’s speech marked the beginning of his more-public efforts to promote proposed changes in the act, first outlined this month in his suggested budget for the 2011 fiscal year and described in more detail by the Education Department.