President Obama urged students Tuesday to work hard and stay in school, in a back-to-school speech that had become a surprise lightning rod for controversy this week.

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In other news, Wall Street rallied on a Labor Department report that showed the U.S. economy lost fewer jobs than expected in July, and President Obama signed a $2 billion extension of the "cash for clunkers" incentive program.

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The Obama administration is pushing education leaders to accept a series of reforms, including performance pay for teachers and a deeper embrace of charter schools. Education Secretary Arne Duncan discusses the proposals with Judy Woodruff.

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President Barack Obama called for big changes in education earlier this week. John Merrow profiles Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, who will be heading up the president's calls for reform and who may bring new strategies to the education policy…

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Speaking before the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Tuesday, President Barack Obama laid out broad reform goals for the nation's school system, delivering the first major education speech of his presidency.

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The Senate confirmed several of the Obama administration's Cabinet choices but delayed voting on Hillary Clinton for secretary of state. Jim Lehrer reports on the day's events.

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Along with Secretary of State nominee Hillary Clinton, the nominees for Secretary of Education and Secretary of Energy began their Senate confirmation hearings Tuesday on Capitol Hill. Ray Suarez reports on the process.

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President-elect Barack Obama named Chicago schools chief Arne Duncan as his pick for education secretary Tuesday. Analysts examine the challenges facing U.S. schools and how Duncan's efforts to turn around troubled Chicago schools will translate to the Cabinet post.

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