Mixed record for implementing a five-part promise

In our previous update, we gave a Promise Kept to two pieces of this promise -- increasing resources for community colleges, and modifying Trade Adjustment Assistance provisions. So here we will focus on the remaining three parts of Obama's pledge.

• Reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act. Several bills introduced in the current Congress would have reauthorized or made significant changes in portions of the 1998 act -- including one bill from Rep. John Tierney, D-Mass., one from Rep. "Buck" McKeon, R-Calif., and one from Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C. -- but none advanced to a vote. This part is a Promise Broken.

• Create flexible education accounts. We still find no mention of this proposal in online searches. We rate it a Promise Broken.

• Expand and fully fund apprenticeship programs. The Obama administration maintained steady funding for the U.S. Labor Department's Office of Apprenticeship in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 -- $27.7 million -- and has requested the same for 2013. The office administers the Fitzgerald Act, a 1937 law that established regulated and registered apprenticeship programs.

However, Obama's 2013 budget requests no further funding for a program called Women in Apprenticeship in Non-Traditional Occupations. The budget says the program's goals can be through existing programs. This program received roughly $1 million in funding in fiscal years 2010 and 2011.

Taking both of these actions into account, we rate this portion a Compromise.

So, putting it all together, this five-part promise included two parts that rated Promise Kept, two rated Promise Broken and one rated Compromise. On balance, then, we rate it Compromise.