ARRA News

PRESS RELEASES

Statement by Secretary Duncan on NAEP Math 2009 Trial Urban District Assessment
ADDED December 08, 2009

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today issued the following statement on The Nation’s Report Card: Mathematics 2009 Trial Urban District Assessment, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) at Grades 4 and 8:

“Today's results show that our nation's biggest cities are continuing to make progress. Since NAEP first started reporting results for urban districts six years ago, most participating cities have produced significant gains in one or both grades assessed. This is good news.

“But the rate of change isn't fast enough to prepare urban children to succeed in college and the workplace. President Obama has committed unprecedented resources for reform. We are working to get great teachers in classrooms and great leaders in schools. We're supporting states’ work to create standards and assessments that measure whether students are prepared for success in colleges and careers. We're helping states build data systems to track whether students are meeting those standards. And we’re turning around our lowest-performing schools.

“Today's results remind us that our urban schools need to accelerate student achievement. But we know from state-by-state NAEP results all of our schools need to improve. People across the country need to work together to create the schools that all of America's children deserve, regardless of their income, race, religion, or zip code.”  

To view the report go to:

http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2010452 


 

 

Educate to Innovate 

ADDED December 03, 2009  

President Obama has launched an “Educate to Innovate” campaign to improve the participation and performance of America’s students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This campaign will include efforts not only from the Federal Government but also from leading companies, foundations, non-profits, and science and engineering societies to work with young people across America to excel in science and math.  As part of the campaign, this Administration hopes to do a series of events, announcements and other activities that build upon the President’s “call to action” and address the key components of national priority.

Through “Educate to Innovate” and other efforts, the following are priorities of what must be done:

  • Increase STEM literacy so that all students can learn deeply and think critically in science, math, engineering, and technology.
  • Move American students from the middle of the pack to top in the next decade.
  • Expand STEM education and career opportunities for underrepresented groups, including women and girls.

What RM products are great solutions for STEM?
SCIENCE
  • RM Easiteach Science
  • RM EasiSciene Lab
  • RM EasiCSI Lab
  • RM EasiInquiry Lite Lab
  • RM EasiInvestigation Lite Lab
TECHNOLOGY
  • RM Podium
  • RM EasiPodcast Lab and EasiPodcast Lite Lab
  • RM Podium Bundle
  • EasiSpeak and EasiSpeak Pro
ENGINEERING
  • RM EasiRobotics Lab and EasiRobotics Lite Lab
  • BeeBot
  • ProBot
  • MechRC
MATHEMATICS
  • RM Math Frameworks
  • RM Math Player
  • RM Easiteach Math

For more information on the Educate to Innovate campaign visit:  http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/education/educate-innovate

 

 

ADDED November 10, 2009

Application Requirements for Final $11.5 Billion in State Fiscal Stabilization Funds Available Now

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced that application requirements for the final $11.5 billion in State Fiscal Stabilization Funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 are now available. In exchange for this unprecedented funding boost, the department is asking states to provide some basic information on teacher distribution, the collection and use of data, standards and assessments, and support for struggling schools.

"The Department of Education has moved quickly to award over $67 billion in education stimulus dollars to date to stabilize state budgets and save jobs," said Duncan. "We are now asking states to implement reform based action items in order to receive the remaining $11.5 billion in State Fiscal Stabilization Funds."

For more information go to:

http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/11/11092009.html

 

ADDED November 3, 2009

$1.4 Billion in Recovery Funds Now Available for Pennsylvania to Save Jobs and Drive Education Reform
Application for Part 1 of Pennsylvania’s State Stabilization Funds Approved Today.  U. S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that $1.4 billion is now available for Pennsylvania under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. This funding will lay the foundation for a generation of education reform and help save hundreds of thousands of teaching jobs at risk of state and local budget cuts. Pennsylvania will be eligible to apply for another $514,403,320 later this fall. Today’s funding is being made available per Pennsylvania’s successful completion of Part 1 of the State Stabilization Application, which was made available on April 1.

For more information go to: http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/11/11022009.html 

 

ADDED October 8, 2009

U.S. Secretary of Education Announces National Competition to Invest in Innovation 

Announced the Department's priorities for grants under the $650 million Investing in Innovation Fund (i3). The fund, which is part of the historic $5 billion investment in school reform in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), will support local efforts to start or expand research-based innovative programs that help close the achievement gap and improve outcomes for students.

Applicants must demonstrate their previous success in closing achievement gaps, improving student progress toward proficiency, increasing graduation rates, or recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers and principals.

Under the proposed priorities, grants would be awarded in three categories:

  • Scale-up Grants: The largest possible grant category is focused on programs and practices with the potential to reach hundreds of thousands of students. Applicants must have a strong base of evidence that their program has had a significant effect on improving student achievement.
  • Validation Grants: Existing, promising programs that have good evidence of their impact and are ready to improve their evidence base while expanding in their own and other communities.
  • Development Grants: The smallest grant level designed to support new and high-potential practices whose impact should be studied further.

"The $650 million Investing in Innovation competition that we are unveiling today is a challenge to school districts and nonprofits," Secretary Duncan said. "We're looking to drive reform, reward excellence and dramatically improve our nation's schools."

For more information visit: http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/10/10062009a.html 

 

ADDED October 1, 2009

$21.8 Billion Distributed to Promote Educational Improvement Formula Funding Delivered to State as of 

October 1U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced today the distribution of more than $21.8 billion in 

formula grants to support state administered programs that support teachers and help students reach high standards. 

Formula grant programs are noncompetitive awards based on a predetermined formula and provide funding for a 

variety of programs, including resources to improve teacher quality, career and technical education, and support for 

children facing the challenges of living in poverty. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B grant 

program supports children and students with disabilities from ages 3 to 21. 

For more information go to: http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/10/10012009.html 
 

ADDED September 30, 2009

Education Secretary Duncan Announces $43 Million in Grants to Improve Teaching in High-Need Schools

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced yesterday the award of $43 million for 28 new five-year Teacher Quality Partnership grants to improve instruction in struggling schools. These grants will be used to reform traditional university teacher preparation and teacher residency programs. Through an additional $100 million provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), a second slate of Teacher Quality Partnership grants will be announced early in 2010.

The Improving Teacher Quality State Grants under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act offer some $2.9 billion in formula grants to states as a major source of flexible funds to help states and school districts strengthen the skills of the teaching force, meet the highly qualified teacher requirements, and ensure qualified teachers are placed in high-need, underserved classrooms.

The partnerships include high-need school districts, their high-need schools, institutions of higher education and their colleges or departments of education, arts and sciences. It is a unique collaboration of the key stakeholders to improve the quality of teaching in public elementary and secondary schools where children are in greatest need of support to accelerate their learning.  

For more information go to: 

http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/09/09302009.html

 

ADDED September 24, 2009

U.S. Department of Education Awards More Than $108.8 Million in Early Reading First Grants to Help Prepare

 Young Children to Read
 U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced the award of more than $108.8 million in Early Reading First 
grants to 28 local education agencies and other public or private organizations in 18 states and Washington, D.C., to improve 
the school readiness of young children, especially those from low income families. The Department of Education awards 

Early Reading First grants to school districts and nonprofit organizations to improve the instruction and environment 

provided by preschool programs supported by the Title I program, Head Start, and publicly funded or subsidized child 

care. For more information go to:http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/09/09222009a.html
 RM Education provides the MyFirst EasiRead Lab for PreKKindergarten teachers. The RM My First EasiRead labs utilizes the popular 

Biscuit Book Series with the EasiSpeak MP3 players in order to teach phonics and reading to the young reader. 
For more information go to: http://www.rmeducation.com/easiread 

 

ADDED: September 17, 2009

Statement by Secretaries Duncan and Sebelius on House Passage of Early Learning Challenge Fund

Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius praised progress made 

by Congress today as the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA), HR 3221, passed the U.S. House of 

Representatives. The bill would move away from subsidizing private lenders to a direct loan program and reinvest nearly 

$90 billion in savings over the next 10 years into several initiatives, including the Early Learning Challenge Fund, which 

will be jointly administered by the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

 

ADDED: September 4, 2009

Secretary Duncan Announces $11.37 Billion in Title I, IDEA, and Vocational Rehabilitation Funds Available to States, Schools Ahead of Schedule 

Delivering unprecedented resources to states and school districts, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced September 4th that more than $11 billion is now available to further save jobs and drive reforms. The Department of Education has made available ahead of schedule the second half of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding—$11.37 billion—in Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, IDEA, and Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) grants and provided further guidance to states and schools on use of funds, flexibility, and the need for collaboration across programs.

"By accelerating the release of Recovery Act funds, the Obama administration is helping states and school districts stabilize their budgets, make decisions based on actual funds available, and move forward interventions to accelerate student achievement," Duncan said. "We also are providing additional guidance to assist educators in taking full advantage of this historic opportunity to invest in what works for students."

On April 1, 2009, the department awarded 50 percent of each state's Title I ARRA funds, IDEA Part B and C ARRA funds, and VR ARRA funds. The remaining 50 percent ($11.37 billion) was to be made available on Sept. 30. Today, these funds became available to all states nearly a month early. To read further click link below.

http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/09/09042009.html 

 

ADDED: August 26, 2009:

Obama Administration Announces Historic Opportunity to Turn Around Nation's Lowest-Achieving Public Schools
Secretary Duncan Announces $3.5 Billion in Title I School Improvement Grants to Fund Transformational Changes Where Children Have Long Been Underserved.

Today, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced draft requirements for $3.5 billion in Title I School Improvement grants to turn around the nation's lowest performing schools.

“If we are to put an end to stubborn cycles of poverty and social failure, and put our country on track for long-term economic prosperity, we must address the needs of children who have long been ignored and marginalized in chronically low-achieving schools,” said Duncan, who made the announcement with U.S. Sen. Harry Reid at Harley Harmon Elementary School in Las Vegas. “States and school districts have an opportunity to put unprecedented resources toward reforms that would increase graduation rates, reduce dropout rates and improve teacher quality for all students, and particularly for children who most need good teaching in order to catch up.”  For more info: http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/08/08262009.html

 

 

ADDED: August 24, 2009

NEW FUNDING ANNOUNCED!!
Investing in Innovation - i3
PURPOSE:
The program will support efforts to bring to scale educational practices with significant evidence of success in improving student achievement and support the development, implementation, replication, and further evaluation of promising innovative practices. The program will not support the simple expansion of well-established and resourced programs.
http://www.ed.gov/programs/innovation/factsheet.html

$650M “Investing in Innovation (i3) Fund,” as well as a public-private platform to help connect innovators, supporters, and education stakeholders across the country.

i3 Fund Goal: Help School Districts Answer “How Can We Do That Here?” Webinar script
http://www.edgovblogs.org/duncan/2009/08/i3-fund-goal-help-school-distri...