PRESIDENT OBAMA TOUTS SCHOOL CHOICE, MERIT PAY

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna was 
among the nation’s state superintendents who were addressed by 
President Barack Obama at a meeting today in Washington, D.C. 
Superintendent Luna, along with other superintendents, was expecting 
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to address them, when 
President Obama unexpectedly walked in the room. 
The President made a surprise visit to the conference after giving a 
bold speech to the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce on education 
reform. 
Superintendent Luna, who is attending the Council of Chief State 
School Officers conference to learn more about federal stimulus 
funding and how it will affect Idaho, was impressed by the President’s 
comments and priorities for education including pay for performance, 
raising academic standards and offering more choice. 
“Right now, there are caps on how any charters schools are allowed in 
some states….. That isn’t good for our children, our economy or our 
country,” President Obama said. 
“Quite frankly I was impressed by President Obama’s call for education 
reform and his specific call for more choice in education and asking 
states like Idaho, to remove the cap on public charter schools," Luna 
said. 
Superintendent Luna, a supporter of school choice, added, “I have long 
been a proponent for raising or eliminating the cap on public charter 
schools in Idaho. There is a huge demand for choice, especially among 
our most struggling student populations such as English language 
learners and special education.  I hope the Legislature can move 
forward in a bi-partisan way to increase choice for all students. Like 
the President said, limiting charter schools isn’t good for our 
children, our economy or our country.”