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The so-called skills gap is really a gap in education, and that affects all of us.

There has been a great challenge in improving educational achievement. It's a long-term issue, not a short-term one. It includes everything from getting more parents involved to addressing issues of poverty and improving what happens in the classroom.

I do think we know that a teacher who knows what he or she is doing, knows their subject matter, and knows how to impart knowledge to kids is a critical piece of closing the achievement gap.

I'm clear that we do need to improve what's happening in our schools.

My priorities are making sure we reduce class size and close the achievement gap.

The biggest barrier we've seen to student progress is this: School policies and practices often prevent good teachers from doing great work and even dissuade some talented Americans from entering the profession. This needs to change.

I feel that education needs an overhaul - courses are obsolete and grades are on the way out.

There is a huge gap between what students want for their future and what their schools are offering.

We are working essentially to build a leadership force of folks who will, during their first two years of teaching, actually put their kids on a different trajectory - not just survive as a new teacher, but actually help close the achievement gap for their kids.

School reform is not enough. The notion of schooling itself must be challenged.