The Obama administration, during a week that critics claim may make or break his presidency when they try to pass health reform, the U.S. Education Secretary, Arne Duncan, appeared on Morning Joe to announce a major move to overhaul education. 

The new standards will remove the current system which punishes schools who don't have their students score at a certain level on standardized tests, to a system which rewards schools for higher standards.  No child left behind was implemented during the Presidency of George W. Bush and has come under heavy criticism.  The current system has lowered standards in some states and has forced educators to merely train students to pass standardized tests to ensure further funding, as opposed to focusing on a broader spectrum of information.

The Education Secretary tied the proposed overhaul of education and possible national standards, to the economy and as a way for American students to compete on a global scale.  Although teachers unions are pushing back, as they are afraid that their members are getting all of the blame for poor students, as was evidenced when a school in Central Falls, Rhode Island, had all of its teachers fired over poor grades.

Watch the clip below: