Obama says administration taking steps to help states, local schools but parents are key

Obama says schools need parents’ help to succeed

NEW ORLEANS — President Barack Obama says his administration is taking steps to be a good partner with states and local school districts to help students. But he says that, in the end, successful schools need involved parents.

At a town hall meeting Thursday in New Orleans, Obama talked about the $5 billion “Race to the Top” fund he created with money from the economic stimulus bill. States can compete for grants to pay for innovative learning approaches.

But Obama says government can only do so much.

He says parents need to insist on excellence from their children “or we won’t succeed.”