HONOLULU — The Obama administration is pressing Congress to approve $23 billion in emergency funding to keep public school teachers nationwide on the job.

Provisional estimates by the White House Council of Economic Advisers say the funding will support the jobs of about 300,000 educators, including some 1,210 in Hawaii.

The White House said Wednesday that the economic downturn has placed massive strains on state and local budgets, and teacher jobs have been targeted for significant cuts.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan said in a Washington news release that it's crucial to keep teachers teaching, students learning and the economy growing.

He says investing in education now will help tens of millions of students become more productive citizens.

An estimated $91 million of the money is targeted for Hawaii.