Educational Success for All

Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama speaks at the Democratic National Convention, Denver, CO, 2008. NBC News/Getty Images.

President Barack Obama visits a pre-kindergarten classroom at Moravia Elementary School in Baltimore, MD, 2013. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

President Barack Obama visits the Department of Education with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Washington, D.C., 2009. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

Headline: “Obama Wants to overhaul education from cradle to career,” 2009. Courtesy CNN.

President Barack Obama visits a pre-kindergarten classroom in Baltimore, MD, 2013. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

Headline: “75% of city’s grade schools on warning list,” November 15, 2001. From the Chicago Tribune. © 2001 Chicago Tribune. All rights reserved. Used under license.

President Barack Obama delivers remarks at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., 2013. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

First Lady Michelle Obama claps along with students as they sing during her visit to Burgess-Peterson Academy in Atlanta, GA, 2011. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

President Barack Obama stops to talk with visiting children outside the West Wing of the White House, 2015. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

President Barack Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan hold a group discussion on the "Race to the Top," Falls Church, VA, 2010. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

Headline: “American education earns poor marks in accountability,” March 8, 2004. © Newark Advocate – USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn.

President Barack Obama talks with Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes following a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Washington, D.C., 2011. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

President Barack Obama talks with Melody Barnes in the Oval Office of the White House, 2009. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

President Barack Obama, with Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes, drops by an Education roundtable at Miami Central High School in Miami, FL, 2011. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

President Barack Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan visit TechBoston Academy in Dorchester, MA, 2011. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

First Lady Michelle Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan speak with students at a FAFSA workshop at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, VA, 2014. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

President Barack Obama joins Anthony Foxx, Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, and African American faith and civil rights leaders prior to a meeting in Room 350 of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C, 2015. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

President Barack Obama proposes making two years of community college free for anyone who's willing to work for it. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

President Barack Obama delivers the commencement address and congratulates graduates of Kalamazoo Central High School at the University Arena at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI, 2010. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

President Barack Obama participates in a round table discussion with students at the University of Iowa, Iowa, IA, 2012. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

President Barack Obama visits a classroom to see demonstrations of several student science and technology projects at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, VA, 2011. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

Headline: "Local reaction to Obama plan: Free Community Brings Praise and skepticism," January 10, 2015. From The Philadelphia Inquirer. © 2015 Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC. All rights reserved. Used under license.

President Barack Obama participates in a town hall on jobs and education at Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis, IN, 2015. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

As part of her Reach Higher initiative, the First Lady joined Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on his “Partners in Progress” Back to School Bus Tour event at Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta, GA, 2012. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

First Lady Michelle Obama, in support of the Reach Higher initiative, participates in the King College Prep graduation ceremony at Chicago State University's Jones Convocation Center in Chicago, IL, 2015. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

First Lady Michelle Obama takes a group photo with the graduating class at the Commencement Ceremony at Quantico Middle/High School on Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, VA, 2011. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks in support of higher education during the fourth annual college signing day at the University of Texas San Antonio, TX, 2014. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

First Lady Michelle Obama, as part of her Reach Higher initiative, joins staff wearing their college apparel for a group photo in celebration of College Signing Day, in the Rose Garden of the White House, Washington, D.C., 2016. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

First Lady Michelle Obama acknowledges Eric Waldo while delivering remarks during the School Counselor of the Year Reach Higher event in the East Room of the White House, Washington, D.C., 2017. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

President Barack Obama visits a pre-kindergarten classroom at Moravia Elementary School in Baltimore, MD, 2013. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

President Barack Obama and a young student touch fingers during a visit to the Community Children's Center, one of the nation's oldest Head Start providers, in Lawrence, KS, 2015. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

President Barack Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan talk with students while visiting a classroom at the Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) in Brooklyn, NY, 2013. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

President Barack Obama plays a magnifying glass game with children during a visit to a pre-kindergarten classroom at the College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center in Decatur, GA, 2013. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

First Lady Michelle Obama greets audience members following her remarks at the Tribal Youth Gathering in support of the Generation Indigenous (Gen-I) and Reach Higher initiatives, at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C., 2015. National Archives, Obama Presidential Library.

TENSION TO RELIEF. Track ID: BRU_BR_0811_00901.Composer(s): Theodore Richard Vidgen (PRS) 100%, IPI 621083681.Publisher: Bruton APM (ASCAP) 100%, IPI 443474750

ISRC: GBAZB2403388. APM MUSIC.

TIME IS A FACTOR. Track ID: BIB_TBX_0184_01501. Composer(s): Jack Richard Pierce (PRS) 100%, IPI 874734499. Publisher: Bibliotheque Metro Park (BMI) 100%, IPI 201452719

ISRC: UKSRT2400097. APM MUSIC.

DRAMEDY. Track ID: CEZ_ISCS_0037_00201. Composer(s): Anne-Sophie Elizabeth Versnaeyen (SACEM) 100%, IPI 650546060. Publisher: Cezame Metro Park (BMI) 100%, IPI 487402830. ISRC: FXR042303460. APM MUSIC.