President Obama highlighted education reform in his first address to Congress last night:

In a global economy where the most valuable skill you can sell is your knowledge, a good education is no longer just a pathway to opportunity – it is a pre-requisite.

But we know that our schools don’t just need more resources. They need more reform. That is why this budget creates new incentives for teacher performance; pathways for advancement, and rewards for success. We’ll invest in innovative programs that are already helping schools meet high standards and close achievement gaps.

It is our responsibility as lawmakers and educators to make this system work. But it is the responsibility of every citizen to participate in it. And so tonight, I ask every American to commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training….we will provide the support necessary for you to complete college and meet a new goal: by 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.

These education policies will open the doors of opportunity for our children. But it is up to us to ensure they walk through them. In the end, there is no program or policy that can substitute for a mother or father who will attend those parent/teacher conferences, or help with homework after dinner, or turn off the TV, put away the video games, and read to their child. I speak to you not just as a President, but as a father when I say that responsibility for our children’s education must begin at home.

I appreciate the call to personal responsibility for students and parents. Changing a system like education is a massive challenge. Sometimes, I’m afraid there’s a sense that people are looking to this new administration to solve all our problems for us. Certainly, government has the power to help or hinder reform.

But the only way to change a system is to change ourselves and make decisions that enhance education for students in our sphere of influence.

If you missed it, you can read the full text of President Obama’s address online.