And in the 21st century, it also means higher education cannot be a luxury -- it is an economic imperative that every American should be able to afford.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Speaks on College Affordability

And I think every parent in America should be able to understand why it is absolutely imperative that we investigate every aspect of this, and that everybody pulls together -- federal, state and local -- to figure out exactly how this tragedy happened.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Nominates Jim Yong Kim for World Bank President | The White House