April 2012

Five States Receive Funding to Turn Around Persistently Lowest Achieving Schools

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that five states will receive funding to turn around their persistently lowest achieving schools through the School Improvement Grants (SIG) program.

$3.1 Million in Grants Awarded to Improve Science, Engineering Education at Predominantly Minority Institutions

The U.S. Department of Education today announced the award of 14 grants worth more than $3.1 million to promote long-range improvement in science and engineering education at predominantly minority institutions.

U.S. Education Department Reaches Agreement with Memphis City Schools on Aids, Services for Students with Disabilities

The U.S. Department of Education announced today that its Office for Civil Rights has reached a resolution agreement with the Memphis, Tenn., City Schools on aids and services to students with disabilities.

Obama Administration Names 78 Schools in 29 States and D.C. as First-Ever U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan was joined today by White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson to announce the first-ever U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools, a list including 78 schools that span 29 states and D.C.

Departments of Education and Justice Reach Settlement with Boston School Committee to Ensure Equal Opportunities for ELL Students

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Education with the U.S.

Statement from U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan on the Student Non-Discrimination Act and the Safe Schools Improvement Act

2012 Promise Neighborhoods Competition Opens, $60 Million Available to Continue Reform and Award New Planning and Implementation Grants

The U.S. Department of Education released today the 2012 application for the Promise Neighborhoods program, which will provide $60 million to continue support for existing implementation grantees and award a new round of planning and implementation grants.

U.S. Department of Education Releases Blueprint to Transform Career and Technical Education

Ankeny, Iowa – Today U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will visit the Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, Iowa, to release the Obama Administration’s blueprint for transforming Career and Technical Education (CTE), by reauthorizing the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006.

Obama Administration Opens Together for Tomorrow School Improvement Challenge

Together for Tomorrow (TFT), the joint initiative of the U.S. Department of Education, White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to spur community engagement in turning around our nation’s lowest performing schools, today launched its School Improvement Challenge for the 2012-13 school year on http://TFT.challenge.gov.

Statement from U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on Pat Summitt Stepping Down as Tennessee Coach

"I am saddened to see that Pat Summitt is stepping down as the basketball coach at the University of Tennessee because she has set the gold standard for coaches everywhere. Her accomplishments as a basketball coach at the University of Tennessee may never be matched. She has won more games than any college basketball coach in history and coached the U.S. women's basketball to a gold medal.

USDA and Education Host White House Rural Council Meeting, Sign Interagency Agreement to Promote Career Pathways and Postsecondary Education

The U.S. Departments of Education and Agriculture have teamed up to enhance agricultural education and related programs that promote postsecondary and career pathways, including teaching, according to an interagency agreement to advance agricultural education. U.S. Education and Agriculture Secretaries Arne Duncan and Tom Vilsack announced the agreement today during a White House Rural Council meeting with local educators at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

Departments of Justice and Education Reach Agreement with the University of California, San Diego to Resolve Harassment Allegations

WASHINGTON – The Departments of Justice and Education reached a settlement agreement with the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), to resolve an investigation into complaints of racial harassment against African-American students on campus. Titles IV and VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 each prohibit harassment based on race.

Education Department Releases Action Plan To Improve Measures of Postsecondary Success

To provide more complete information on student persistence and completion, the Education Department released an action plan today that takes steps to augment its current measures of student success in postsecondary education.

Philanthropic Leaders Pledge $1 Million as Initial Investment in Public Private Partnerships for AAPI Community

WASHINGTON – With newly released figures from the U.S. Census Bureau indicating that the Asian American population experienced a 43 percent increase and that of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders experienced a 30 percent increase from 2000 to 2010, on April 2, 2012, the nation’s top foundations pledged an initial $1 million and the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders convened its first National Philanthropic Briefing to draw attention to this fastest growing racial group in the country.

The 2012 Race to the Top Fund Continues Investments in Statewide Systems of High Quality Early Education Programs

The U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced today that $133 million from the 2012 Race to the Top fund will be available for continued investments in state-level, comprehensive early education reform.

U.S. Department of Education Awards Joplin Schools Nearly $50,000 to Support Local Recovery Efforts

The U.S. Department of Education awarded Joplin Schools a $49,780 Project SERV grant to help provide local students and education staff with academic and mental health services following the Category 5 tornado that struck the Joplin community on May 22, 2011.

Statement by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today issued the following statement on the shootings Monday at Oikos University in Oakland, Calif.

I was saddened to learn of the senseless violence and loss of life at Oikos University in Oakland. My thoughts are with the community and families of the victims.”