Obama to defend education reform policies before critics at National Urban League

Obama to defend education policies to critics

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is defending his education policies Thursday before critics at the National Urban League.

Obama will speak at the organization’s centennial conference. In excerpts released ahead of his speech, Obama says his “Race to the Top” initiative is meant to help turn around failing schools and provide support to teachers. Obama says the goal of the more than $4 billion program is to spur innovative reform in states.

The National Urban League was one of eight civil rights groups that released a report this week, calling the administration’s education initiative an ineffective approach for improving failing schools that leaves out many minority students.