During his most recent State of the Union address, President Obama reiterated his goal of improving education, stating that both innovation and investment in America's schools are needed to make this happen.
One step already in progress is the Race to the Top program, a competition that invites schools in every state to implement innovative plans that boost teacher quality and student achievement in exchange for federal funding.
Many of the innovations involve implementing new technology in the classroom. For example, teachers have found they can introduce a computer, interactive whiteboard or HDMI projector to create an environment that engages students and fuels their desire to learn.
"Race to the Top is the most meaningful reform of our public schools in a generation," the president said. "For less than 1 percent of what we spend on education each year, it has led over 40 states to raise their standards for teaching and learning."
The Race to the Top program is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. In its second round of funding, the U.S. Department of Education awarded $3.4 billion through the program.
