White House wants 10,000 new science and math teachers

Obama argued even suburban and well-performing schools have seen their students’ performance in math and science decline at a time when those fields are increasingly vital to the nation’s economic interests. He said his administration would be placing a heavy emphasis on getting better teachers in those fields and providing with the support and incentives they need to remain in the field.

Obama also said he believes American students should have longer school years, noting that U.S. schools currently give students a month more for summer break than most advanced countries.

“That month makes a difference,” Obama said, adding that students, especially those from lower-income backgrounds, lose a lot of what they learn over the summer.