P-12 Reform

26 More States and D.C. Seek Flexibility from NCLB to Drive Education Reforms in Second Round of Requests

Twenty-six new states and the District of Columbia have formally submitted requests to the U.S. Department of Education for waivers from key provisions of No Child Left Behind. This adds to the 11 states that the Obama Administration announced earlier this month had developed and agreed to implement bold education reforms in exchange for relief from burdensome federal mandates.

Statement from Education Secretary Arne Duncan

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today issued the following statement on North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue's announcement to extend early childhood education to 2,000 at-risk North Carolina children:

Fighting the Wrong Education Battles

I was pleased to hear that today's event in the Askwith lecture series was sold-out. But I hope that no one here today is under the impression that they are going to hear from Lady Gaga. I'm the warm-up act—she is later this month.

Statement from U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on the New MDRC Study, 'Sustained Positive Effects on Graduation Rates Produced by New York City's Small Public High Schools of Choice'

“This new, rigorous study by MDRC of New York City’s ambitious experiment with small public high schools underscores the great potential to replace failing schools for disadvantaged students with schools that instead narrow achievement and attainment gaps. MDRC’s study is important and encouraging on several fronts.

Department of Education Awards $200 Million to Seven States to Advance K-12 Reform

The U.S. Department of Education announced today that seven states -Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania- will each receive a share of the $200 million in Race to the Top Round 3 (RTT3) fund to advance targeted K-12 reforms aimed at improving student achievement.

$200 Million Now Available for Race to the Top Round Three

Starting this week, Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina can apply for a share of the $200 million Race to the Top round three fund.

Siding with Students

Good evening and thank you for inviting me here to Rhode Island to talk about the challenges and the opportunities to improve education and strengthen our economy.

President Obama and I believe deeply that education and the economy are inextricably linked. American cannot thrive in the new century without a skilled and educated workforce.

35 States, D.C. and Puerto Rico Submit Applications for the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge

The U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services announced today that 35 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico submitted applications for the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge, a $500 million state-level competitive grant program to improve early learning and development.

The Road Ahead for Puerto Rico

Today, I've been fortunate to get an education in Puerto Rico's P-12 system. And from the frank discussions at the Summit, to the students and great teachers whom I talked with at the Ines Maria Mendoza Elementary School in Bayamon, one conclusion leaps out. Puerto Rico today is at an educational crossroads.