Politics | President Obama Obama Readies 'No Child' Overhaul President looks beyond health reform to 'kitchen-table' issues By Newser Editors and Wire Services Posted Mar 13, 2010 6:03 AM CST Copied President Barack Obama arrives to speak at the Export-Import Bank's Annual Conference in Washington, Thursday, March 11, 2010. (Charles Dharapak) President Obama today promised to rewrite the sweeping and controversial No Child Left Behind law with a plan to prepare students for life after high school and to place better teachers at the blackboards. The announcement's timing suggests Obama is looking beyond the health care reform still lingering in Congress—and education is a kitchen-table issue certain to resonate with voters in November. "For schools that do well but could do better, we will encourage continuous improvement to help keep our young people prepared for the jobs of the 21st century," Obama said in his weekly address. Although Obama was short on specifics, the president has been clear he is eying sweeping change. He has used federal money—including $3.5 billion in last year's stimulus—as leverage to push schools to raise standards and prepare more children for college or work. Read These Next New Fox star, 23, misses first day after car troubles. Man accused of killing his daughters might be dead. Iran's supreme leader makes first public comments since ceasefire. Her blood isn't compatible with anyone else's. Report an error