Obama stresses investments in early childhood initiatives . The president also says he will work with Congress to pass a bill that would provide tax credits for families who buy private insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act. He calls for end to the practice of lowering state reading , math standards . He also reiterated a promise to support merit pay , as well as extra pay for math and science teachers with the goal of ending a shortage in both of those subjects . Obama pledges to push for major expansion of performance-based pay programs .
Obama stresses investments in early childhood initiatives . The president also says he will work with Congress to pass a bill that would provide tax credits for families who buy private insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act. He calls for end to the practice of lowering state reading , math standards . Obama pledges to push for major expansion of performance-based pay programs .