On the heels of his first State of the Union address since re-election, President Barack Obama will be heading to Georgia where he plans to visit an early learning center on Thursday.
Few details have been released about his visit to the Atlanta area on Feb. 14. However, Patch has confirmed that Obama will make a stop at the College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center in Decatur, Ga.
His stop here is one of only two metropolitan areas he plans to visit following his State of the Union speech.
In the speech, the president set forth a plan for education reform: highlighting the need for top-quality preschool for every American child; promoting high schools that prepare students for jobs in demand, such as science and engineering; and determining what federal aid colleges get based on how affordable they are.
On early learning, he said in his prepared statement: "Every dollar we invest in high-quality early education can save more than seven dollars later on – by boosting graduation rates, reducing teen pregnancy, even reducing violent crime."
In addition, he addressed the safety of school children -- and others -- when he demanded that Congress at least take a vote on stronger gun control.
"It has been two months since Newtown," he said, according to his prepared speech. "I know this is not the first time this country has debated how to reduce gun violence. But this time is different."
He also noted -- by name -- Hadiya Pendleton, a Chicago 15-year-old who performed at the recent inauguration only to return home and be shot and killed after school one day.
A lot of issues are on the table regarding America's schools.
And, on Valentine's Day, a few local parents, teachers and even school children likely will get the chance to see the president in person.
-- Speak Out: If you had the chance, and the president was coming to your child's school, what would you ask him? What educational items do you want him to focus on? What hasn't worked that he's done so far? --
A lot more than 30… Not a dumb question. And you must not have a kid in school or you wouldn't be so flippant about the most precious thing in your life! And if you do have a child, what a disappointment you are to parents everywhere.