Washington ( CNN ) -- President Barack Obama called Monday for Congress to pass education reforms by the time students return to school next fall , telling a Virginia middle school that fixing problems in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act -- more commonly known as `` No Child Left Behind '' -- should be a top priority . `` In the 21st century , it 's not enough to leave no child behind . We need to help every child get ahead , '' Obama said , urging Congress `` to send me an education reform bill I can sign into law before the next school year begins . '' Mindful of the budget debate currently enveloping Washington , Obama insisted that education funding must remain robust because it is vital to the nation 's future success . `` We can not cut education , '' Obama said , noting that families facing tough times cut back on vacation or movies or eating out , rather than dipping into savings for a child 's college tuition . `` A budget that sacrifices our children 's education will be a budget that sacrifices our country 's future , '' he said . The Elementary and Secondary Education Act was originally passed in 1965 and requires periodic reauthorization . The current version of the law , which was passed on a bipartisan basis in 2002 , requires states to set higher standards and to have greater accountability through standardized testing . Education Secretary Arne Duncan issued a dire prediction Sunday afternoon during a conference call with reporters , saying that if `` No Child Left Behind '' is n't reformed , four out of five schools wo n't meet the law 's standards . `` Under the current law , it 's one size fits all , '' Duncan said . `` We need to fix this law now so we can close the achievement gap . '' The administration , which has been meeting with congressional leaders to hash out changes before any reauthorization vote , believes current law is too punitive and has led to a too-narrow curriculum and lower standards . A pair of House Republicans agree . `` Although we have our different approaches , everyone agrees the current law is broken and in need of repair . The status quo is failing both students and taxpayers , '' Reps. John Kline , R-Minnesota , and Duncan Hunter , R-California , said in a joint statement last week . `` No one disagrees on the importance of education , '' Duncan said Sunday . `` For the most part , we 've been largely aligned with leaders on both sides of the aisle , but we need to come together and do the right thing for our children . '' For Obama , that means increasing the incentive-based concept of his `` Race to the Top '' program that offers extra funding for states that show home-grown education reforms are improving performance . He proposed expanding `` Race to the Top '' to let local school districts apply , and said reforming `` No Child Left Behind '' should build on the program 's goals . The president made a point of promoting the importance of teachers , calling for them to get more pay and respect as valued assets in the nation 's future success . He made no mention of the new Wisconsin law that stripped some collective bargaining benefits from teachers and other public employees , but his enthusiastic promotion of teachers prompted applause and cheers of support . Obama spoke at Kenmore Middle School in Arlington , Virginia . The arts and communications magnet school has incorporated technology in many areas of its curriculum . CNN 's Tom Cohen contributed to this story .
NEW : President Obama urges more respect and more pay for teachers . NEW : Obama opposes cutting education spending , as proposed by Repubicans . NEW : The president says he will veto any bill that cuts funding to schools or teacher salaries. Members of Congress are divided on how to reform the act .