If there has been one issue near and dear to the President's heart it would have to be education. 

President Obama has been consistent in his emphasis on education since his inauguration, having held several major speeches specifically on education.  His administration as also changed how student loans are handled by cutting out the middle men (banks), instead handling loans internally and saving billions in fees that once went to the financial industry and allowing student loan programs to reach even more students.  The White House has also implemented a $4 billion program run by Education Secretary Arne Duncan called Race to the Top, which recently awarded additional funds to states that were willing to improve standards and met certain goals.

In a continuation of their education offensive, the President spoke to NBC's Matt Lauer this morning to discuss what challenges they are preparing to tackle next in education, especially when a new poll suggested that Americans see the education system as in bad shape.  Among those issues facing students in the United States are poor math and science and science scores.  American students have dropped to 21st and 25th out of 30 nations in science and math, something which is completely unacceptable to compete in the emerging global economy.

Watch the President's remarks below: