( CNN ) -- President Barack Obama defended his proposed education spending increases Friday , telling an audience of students and teachers in Florida that such investments are necessary to spur future economic growth . `` If we want more good news on the jobs front , then we need to make more investments in education , '' Obama said . `` I am not willing to give up on any child in America . ... I do not accept failure . '' Obama 's proposed budget for fiscal year 2012 includes an 11 % hike in federal education spending , to more than $ 77 billion . Republican congressional leaders are seeking to reduce federal spending on education , with many arguing it should be primarily a state and local concern . Among other things , the administration has made a pledge to prepare an additional 100,000 science , technology , math and engineering teachers by the end of the decade . The White House also is pushing to make permanent the American Opportunity Tax Credit , which is worth up to $ 10,000 for four years of college . Seeking a political middle ground , Obama has also stressed the need for reform and , more specifically , the need to remove poorly performing teachers and school administrators . He continued to do so Friday , calling the status quo `` unacceptable . '' At the same time , however , the president also appeared to criticize at Republicans such as Wisconsin Gov . Scott Walker , who is trying to strip teachers and other public sector workers of the bulk of their collective bargaining rights . Teachers are `` feeling beat up '' right now , Obama said . `` I want to be very clear here . We are proud of what ( teachers ) do each and every day . We need to honor teachers . '' The president appeared with Education Secretary Arne Duncan and former Florida Gov . Jeb Bush , a Republican , at Miami Central Senior High School -- a previously underperforming school which has improved in recent years . The turnaround , Obama stressed , was done by implementing a reform plan in cooperation with the local teachers union . White House officials noted that the school was awarded nearly $ 785,000 in federal School Improvement Grant funds to help finance its turnaround plan . Obama has asked Congress for $ 900 million for a new round in the Race to the Top competition , which rewards states and localities that meet the administration 's standards for educational innovation and outcomes .
Obama says more education spending is needed to spur future economic growth . Obama reiterates his call for reform , but also praises teachers . The president appeared with former Florida Gov . Jeb Bush at a high school in Miami .