Dive Summary:

• President Barack Obama announced an executive order Wednesday creating a White House Initiative on Educational Excellence in African-Americans to be housed in the Education Department, though it will work with the Executive Office and other Cabinet agencies to find ways to improve the educational performance of African Americans.
• The announcement comes as Obama faces a tough re-election battle against Mitt Romney--and on the heels of previous criticism from leaders in the African-American community who say the President has not done enough to counter dropout rates that exceed the national average.
• It is unclear how much funding the initiative will receive, but more information is expected to be announced when the order is signed on Thursday.

From the article:

Locked in a tough re-election battle with Mitt Romney, President Barack Obama aimed to energize his core supporters – African American voters – by delivering a rousing speech and unveiling a new executive order at the Urban League’s annual convention in New Orleans Tuesday night.
The president told the largely African American crowd of roughly 3,700 people that the executive order will seek to improve educational achievement for African Americans at all levels “so every child has greater access to a complete and competitive education from the time they’re born to the time, all through the time they get a career” the president said to cheers. ...