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I believe that we should create new incentives to catalyze bold state and local innovation in support of student success and achievement.

I believe that every single child deserves fair access to the resources of her school and her district – and access to excellent teachers and principals.

I believe all educators and principals need and deserve excellent preparation, support and opportunities for growth that go far beyond what exists in most places today. And I’m pleased to say, you’ll hear more about this when President Obama releases his budget. I believe teachers and principals deserve to be paid in a way that reflects the importance of the work they do – regardless of the tax base of their surrounding community. I believe teachers and schools need greater resources and funds. This year, President Obama's Budget will include $2.7 billion for increased spending on ESEA programs, including $1 billion additional just for Title I. And we will fight to make sure Congress provides more resources as part of any effort to rewrite ESEA. I believe those in low-income schools should have resources and support comparable to that in other schools. Our children and teachers, who need and deserve the most, cannot continue to receive the least. I believe that all teachers deserve fair, genuinely helpful systems for evaluation and professional growth that identify excellence and take into account student learning growth.

I believe parents, and teachers, and students have both the right and the absolute need to know how much progress all students are making each year towards college- and career-readiness. The reality of unexpected, crushing disappointments, about the actual lack of college preparedness cannot continue to happen to hard working 16- and 17-year olds – it is not fair to them, and it is simply too late. Those days must be over.