Mr. Obama's plan, alternately, proposes to provide incentives to educators who demonstrate medium- and long-term improvements. It also aims to remove strict focus from standardized testing, instead providing resources "to back the development of teacher evaluation systems that use student learning and other measures to support and identify good teaching," according to a White House fact sheet on the issue.

 

"Today, far too many teachers feel they have to do with a narrow curriculum focused only on reading and math," Duncan said, according to the Hill. "We need to invest in state and local efforts to support a well-rounded curriculum and allow states to include subjects beyond reading and math in their accountability systems."

 

Mr. Obama has also emphasized the importance of preparing students for the future.

"We need to make sure we're graduating students who are ready for college and a career," he said in a statement on Sunday.