Decrying shortcomings of the No Child Left Behind Act, President Obama today pledged to make American students more competitive in the global economy by encouraging higher state standards for primary and secondary education.
Obama told a gathering of the nation's governors at the White House that students in the U.S. lag behind by several crucial measures. For example, eighth-grade students rank ninth in the world in math and 11th in science.
The certification would be a condition of receiving access to federal funds.
Recounting his visit to South Korea last year, Obama told the governors about a conversation in which he asked President Lee Myung-bak to name the biggest challenge he faces in education.