Obama supports merit pay and charter schools

Good news: He values charter schools (as evidenced by his choice of Arne Duncan for Dept. of Ed) and merit pay (despite the latter's practical difficulties).

Bad news: He sees a federal role in promoting merit pay. It's not appropriate constitutionally. And the problems with merit pay would be exacerbated with a federal approach.

An observation: Does it seem like Obama's talking about a different topic every day? Is it too much and too little focus?

From the AP's Libby Quaid (hat tip: C-J)...

President Barack Obama called yesterday for tying teachers' pay to students' performance and expanding innovative charter schools, embracing ideas that have provoked hostility from members of teachers' unions.

He also suggested longer school days -- and years -- to help America's kids compete in the world....

Despite their history on the issues, union leaders publicly welcomed Obama's words, saying it seems clear he wants to include them in his decisions in a way President George W. Bush did not....

Obama said state limits on numbers of charter schools aren't "good for our children, our economy or our country." He said many of the innovations in education today are happening in charter schools.

Lisa Gross, spokeswoman with the Kentucky Department of Education, said the charter school proposals would not apply to Kentucky because current state law does not provide mechanisms for allowing charter schools....

Public schools will get an unprecedented amount of money -- double the education budget under Bush -- from the economic stimulus bill over the next two years....