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Category Archives: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Economic Stimulus)
States Ready to Apply for $500 Million for Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge
From Kristin McDonald over on CEC Policy Insider. Just minutes after an earthquake shook Washington, DC, Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education and Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services, announced the release of the final application for the Race … Continue reading
Race to the Top Winners Face Potential Change in Leadership with Upcoming Elections
When American’s go to the polls on Election Day (November 2nd) they will elect 435 members of the House of Representatives, 36 Senators, and 37 Governors. Interestingly, 10 of the 12 states that won Race to the Top (RTTT) funding will host gubernatorial elections, establishing a scenario whereby a switch in political parties and leadership may mean a shift in education reform philosophy and could, potentially impact implementation of approved Race to the Top grants. Educators and policy wonks will be closely watching gubernatorial elections in Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and the mayoral… Continue reading
Posted in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Economic Stimulus), Race to the Top
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Delaware, Tennessee Awarded Race to the Top Grants to Implement Education Reforms
Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) announced Delaware and Tennessee as the first states to receive Race to the Top grants. As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the $4 billion Race to the Top program (RTTT) seeks to provide states with funding to implement education reforms in four key areas: • Adopting standards and assessments that prepare students to succeed in college and the workplace; • Building data systems that measure student growth and success, and inform teachers and principals how to improve instruction; • Recruiting, developing, rewarding, and retaining effective teachers and principals,… Continue reading
Posted in Administration, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Economic Stimulus), Race to the Top, U.S. Department of Education
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16 States Make First Cut in $4 Billion Race to the Top Competition
On March 4, the U.S. Department of Education announced that 16 states are finalists in the first phase of the Race to the Top competition, the $4 billion initiative to implement education reforms. The finalists are: Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Finalists were chosen based on a peer review process and will now have to provide an oral presentation of their applications in mid-March, a process that will be on video and publically available, prior to receiving awards for this first phase… Continue reading
Posted in Administration, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Economic Stimulus), Race to the Top, U.S. Department of Education
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Highlight Your School’s Progress for Students with Disabilities and Gifts and Talents!
Last week, the White House announced the Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge. High schools across the nation can compete to host the President as their graduation commencement speaker. At the beginning of the school year, the President encouraged students across the country to take responsibility for their education, study hard and graduate from high school. The Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge encourages schools to show how they are making great strides on personal responsibility, academic excellence and college readiness. The application process is described on the White House website. Each school can submit one… Continue reading
Posted in Administration, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Economic Stimulus), Race to the Top
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One Year Anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
One year ago, on February 17, 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (a.k.a. the economic stimulus package) was signed into law by President Barack Obama. CEC celebrated this pivotal moment in the history of special education–this legislation more than doubled the current federal allocation for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (Read CEC’s press release from February 17, 2009. Specifically, the economic stimulus bill funded grants to states for IDEA Part B at $11.3 billion, Section 619 at $400 million, and Part C at $500 million. In addition, ARRA provided for a CEC-backed extension on the moratorium for… Continue reading
President’s Budget: A Focus on Early Childhood
On Monday, February 1, the President submitted his budget to Congress. CEC previously discussed his requests in a previous CEC Policy Insider story. In this edition of the PI, we are taking a closer look at what the President is requesting for Early Childhood education and programs. In future editions, we will examine the Administration’s proposals for gifted and talented education, charter schools and teacher preparation and incentive pay. CEC is disappointed that the Administration did not seek any increases for the IDEA Part B 619 program, or IDEA Part C. CEC has long worked to achieve more funding for… Continue reading
Posted in Administration, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Economic Stimulus), IDEA Early Intervention, IDEA Preschool, U.S. Congress
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The President’s Budget Request: A Look at IDEA and Javits
Monday, the President submitted his proposed budget to Congress. This budget is a disappointment to CEC and its members because the President failed to live up to his promise to fully fund IDEA. Furthermore, although the Administration did not propose to eliminate the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Student’s Act, it would consolidate it with two other programs into a new fund called the College Pathways and Accelerated Learning fund. At the very least, this would eliminate Javits’ dedicated funding stream and place its future in jeopardy. IDEA As a candidate, President Obama stated that full funding for IDEA… Continue reading
2011 Education Budget is “Missed Opportunity” for Special, Gifted Education
CEC will continue working toward increased funding for special & gifted education President Obama’s proposed fiscal year 2011 education budget, while signaling an ambitious new direction for federal K-12 education policy, is a disappointment to national special education advocates hoping the President would fulfill his campaign promise and fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the 35-year-old special education law which promised funding levels never realized, according to the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). “CEC commends the President for sending the nation a clear signal that he is serious about education,” said Deborah Ziegler, Associate Executive Director for… Continue reading
In Case You Missed Last Night’s State of the Union
Click here to watch it! During Wednesday night’s State of the Union, President Obama discussed his plans for the education budget. Click to read an excerpt from his speech. (Excerpt from President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address January 27, 2010) “Fourth, we need to invest in the skills and education of our people. (Applause.) Now, this year, we’ve broken through the stalemate between left and right by launching a national competition to improve our schools. And the idea here is simple: Instead of rewarding failure, we only reward success. Instead of funding the status quo, we only invest… Continue reading
Posted in Administration, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Economic Stimulus), U.S. Congress
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