But roadblocks, such as state regulations and teachers unions, have prevented this, Spellings said during a event.

"It's not by accident that there are all these barriers," Spellings said.

Asked by an audience member what was being done attract new teachers to the profession, Spellings presented a dire prognosis. "The short answer is we're not doing enough to attract our best and brightest to the profession," she said.

"I believe that we make it so difficult. There are so many barriers to entry into this profession, it's absurd," Spellings said.

An approach such as having experts teach math or science just from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday is not allowable under regulations that require teachers to be in school 185 days a year, she said. Instead, math and science are being taught by teachers who do not specialize in those fields, Spellings said.