December 2012

Education Department Launches 'Pay As You Earn' Student Loan Repayment Plan

The U.S. Department of Education announced today that many borrowers are now able to take advantage of a new repayment plan that could lower their monthly federal student loan bills. The plan, known as Pay As You Earn, caps monthly payments for many recent graduates at an amount that is affordable based on their income.

Secretary Duncan Announces Seventeen 2012 Promise Neighborhoods Winners in School Safety Address at Neval Thomas Elementary School

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced 17 winners of the 2012 Promise Neighborhoods $60 million grant fund during a school safety speech at Neval Thomas Elementary School in Washington, D.C.

All 2012 Investing in Innovation Top Applicants Secure Support from Private Donors

Today the U.S. Department of Education announced all 20 of the highest-rated applicants in the 2012 Investing in Innovation (i3) competition have secured their required private-sector matching funds and have become official i3 grantees.

Education Department Announces Resolution of Civil Rights Investigation of Christina School District in Wilmington, Del.

The U.S. Department of Education announced today the successful resolution of a compliance review at the Christina School District in Wilmington, Del., the largest school system in the state.

Statement from U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on the Passing of Senator Daniel Inouye

"Senator Inouye understood that education is an investment, not an expense, and he consistently stood up for the students of Hawaii and our nation. After heroically serving in World War II, he completed college and law school with help from the G.I. Bill, leading to a lifetime of public service and a commitment to bipartisanship that I deeply respected."

Statement from U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on the Newtown, Connecticut, School Shootings

"School shootings are always incomprehensible and horrific tragedies. But words fail to describe today's heartbreaking and savage attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School. As the father of two children in elementary school, I can barely imagine the anguish and losses suffered today by the Newtown community.

Education Department Announces 16 Winners of Race to the Top-District Competition

Note To Editors: White House Domestic Policy Council Director Cecilia Muñoz and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will host a press call at 3:30 p.m. ET today, Tuesday, Dec. 11, to discuss this announcement. Members of the press who wish to join the call may dial 888-989-9713 and give the passcode: "District."

The U.S.

Statement by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on the Release of the 2011 TIMSS and PIRLS Assessments

“These 2011 international assessments provide both encouraging news about our students’ progress and some sobering cautionary notes.

“The encouraging news is that U.S. fourth grade students have made significant progress in reading and mathematics in the last five years, and our fourth graders now rank among the world’s leaders in reading literacy.

Five More States Secure Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge Grants

Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, Oregon, and Wisconsin will each receive a share of the 2012 Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge $133 million grant fund to improve quality and expand access to early learning programs throughout their states. The five winners join nine existing state grantees who secured first-round funding last year.

Secretary's Statement Commending the AFT Teacher Preparation Task Force's "Raising the Bar" Report

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today released the following statement on the American Federation of Teachers Teacher Preparation Task Force's "Raising the Bar" report.