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Contest: Obama as Commencement Speaker

On the short list of commencement speakers to watch-Rachel Maddow at Smith, Meryl Streep at Barnard, Janet Napolitano at Pomona...

Amanda M. Fairbanks
By Amanda M. FairbanksFeb 21, 2010
Amanda M. Fairbanks
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On the short list of commencement speakers to watch-Rachel Maddow at Smith, Meryl Streep at Barnard, Janet Napolitano at Pomona (I could go on, but will spare you)-you can now add Barack Obama to the list. Granted, we're talking high school here, but as is his wont with all things federal (Race to the Top, Promise Neighborhoods), if you want it, you're going to have to compete for it.

The winningest high school must show how they're helping its students to meet the president's goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020.

"Public schools that encourage systemic reform and embrace effective approaches to teaching and learning help prepare America's students to graduate ready for college and a career," said Obama in a video, posted below, which announces the competition. They're calling it: The Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge.

But is this one contest too many?

Full memo:



Photo of Michelle Obama at Princeton University (cc) via Flickr user Obama Photos.

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