As school budgets are being cut across the nation, more and more teachers are being laid off. Classroom sizes are getting bigger and school years have been shorten, say a new White House report. President Obama says that because of what is happening in schools throughout the U.S., Congress needs to pass a proposal he has to help reduce the number of teachers being laid off.

The new study by the White House showed that over 300,000 educational jobs have been cut since the end of the recession in late 2009 and the ratio between student and teacher has increased by over 4.5% from 2008 to 2010, with projections of even more of an increase.

Obama said it is imperative to stop the education layoffs if the U.S. wants to lead the world during the 21st century. He said nothing was more important than every student getting the best possible education from their first day of preschool to their graduation of college or graduate school.

Obama is pushing Congress to do something, part of a strategy for an election year to portray his opposition as the obstructionists. However, Republicans have also proposed their own legislation, but have not been able to advance it in a Senate controlled by Democrats. The partisanship will not allow anything to be done in Congress.

The private sector has succeeded in creating new jobs even though it has been at a very slow pace. Public sector has posted monthly losses in jobs for the past few months, helping to contribute to the high unemployment rate.

Obama’s job plan he wants passed included a provision of $25 billion to prevent teacher layoffs and for other jobs related to education.