Education

Application for Part 1 of Maryland's State Stabilization Funds Approved Today

June 1, 2009 -- U. S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that more than $589 million is now available for Maryland 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. Maryland will be eligible to apply for another $290 million this fall.

Today's funding is being made available per Maryland's successful completion of Part 1 of the State Stabilization Application, which was made available on April 1st.    » read more »

Application for Part 1 of Iowa's State Stabilization Funds Approved Today

June 1, 2009 -- U. S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that more than $316 million is now available for Iowa 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. Iowa will be eligible to apply for another $156 million this fall.

Today's funding is being made available per Iowa's successful completion of Part 1 of the State Stabilization Application, which was made available on April 1st.    » read more »

Educators emphasize concerns about ineffective evaluation systems

WASHINGTON - June 01, 2009 - A report released today by The New Teacher Project identifies how poor teacher performance is rarely identified or addressed, and argues that the reasons school districts retain low-performing teachers have less to do with tenure and due process and more to do with flawed evaluation systems.

The Widget Effect: Our National Failure to Acknowledge and Act on Differences in Teacher Effectiveness highlights a position that NEA has long advocated: the need for comprehensive evaluation systems designed to help teachers enhance their own professional practice. Using case studies in four districts, the report shows how schools fail to identify or act on differences in teacher performance.    » read more »

June 1, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today applauded Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s release of $316 million in education funding for Iowa. The funding was included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Economic Recovery package, and is part of the more than $400 million initial investment in education initiatives across the state.

Today’s funding is being made available per Iowa’s successful completion of Part 1 of the State Stabilization Application, which was made available on April 1st. The state will be eligible to apply for another $156 million this fall.    » read more »

June 1, 2009 -- Rhode Island Governor Donald L. Carcieri and Commissioner of Primary and Secondary Education Peter McWalters today joined the Common Core State Standards Initiative, a state-led process to develop common English-language arts and mathematics standards. The Common Core State Standards Initiative will be jointly led by the NGA Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO).    » read more »

Report Contains 27 Major Recommendations to Help Create Jobs, Generate Economic Activity, Benefit Colleges and Universities across New York State

June 1, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today accepted the final report from the New York State Commission on Asset Maximization. The Commission was charged with broadly examining whether asset maximization can benefit the State, as well as whether any specific New York assets are suitable candidates for Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).    » read more »

May 31, 2009 -- As legislative conferees continue talking about the Fiscal Year 2010 budget, it’s important they and the public know the facts about education funding. For school year 2009-2010, our K-12 schools will receive nearly $200 million more than they have ever received in any fiscal year, a 7.8 percent increase over the previous highest year’s funding and a 10.6 percent increase over the funding public education actually received last year.    » read more »

ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 1, 2009) – Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley today issued the following statement following the U.S. Department of Education’s announcement regarding the approval of Maryland’s State Fiscal Stabilization Fund application, resulting in more than $589 million in Recovery funds for the State of Maryland:

““In Maryland, we are using federal Recovery funds in the exact way President Obama and Congress intended – to protect our number one ranked public school system and invest in our community colleges.”    » read more »

June 1, 2009 -- HONOLULU – Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle and State School Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto today announced Hawaii’s participation in a nationwide program led by the states to ensure public school students have the knowledge and skills they need to compete in the global economy.

Governor Lingle and Superintendent Hamamoto have co-signed a Memorandum of Agreement that commits Hawaii to participate in the process of developing a common core of state standards that are internationally benchmarked. The national effort will be led by the Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices.    » read more »

May 29, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D?SD) announced today that the Teaching the Young People AmeriCorps program at the Red Cloud Indian School in Pine Ridge will receive a $234,160 federal grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service. The funding allows 22 AmeriCorps members to receive up to $4,725 to pay for college or qualified student loans.

“These funds will allow AmeriCorps volunteers to continue meeting the needs of the Pine Ridge community,” Johnson said. “AmeriCorps volunteers are a great example of those who make our communities better. These programs maintain hundreds of thousands of volunteers and generate millions of hours of service to communities and families throughout the nation.”    » read more »

Honors fallen Texas soldiers at Legislative Memorial Ceremony

May 30, 2009 -- AUSTIN – Texas Governor Rick Perry today signed Senate Bill (SB) 90, authorizing Texas to join the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, which helps make school transitions easier for the children of active duty military personnel who move to Texas. The governor also spoke at the Texas Legislative Memorial Ceremony honoring fallen Texas soldiers.    » read more »

PHOENIX – During a bill signing ceremony at the State Capitol, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer today signed HB2001 into law. HB 2001 will allow parents of disabled and foster children to continue to choose and utilize the school that best serves the needs of their children.

“I am so honored and proud to sign into law this important legislation,” Governor Brewer stated. “These foster parents and parents of disabled students selected an educational environment that is best suited for their children, and this bill will allow them to continue on the educational path that they have chosen."    » read more »

May 31, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska – Alaska Governor Sarah Palin announced that the State of Alaska has chosen to monitor but not yet actively participate in the upcoming initiative to create nationwide common core state standards in reading and math.

The National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers have announced they intend to work with states to formulate standards in English and math for kindergarten through grade 12 by December 2009.    » read more »

May 28, 2009 -- Billings, Montana -- U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan visited Billings, Mont., on Wednesday, May 27, as part of his "Listening and Learning" tour. He was joined by U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, Sen. Jon Tester and Gov. Brian Schweitzer. The day included visits to Lame Deer High School, the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, Broadwater Elementary School, as well as a news conference at Montana State University-Billings and a roundtable meeting with Montana's tribal leaders.    » read more »

Application for Part 1 of Puerto Rico's State Stabilization Funds Approved Today

May 28, 2009 -- U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that $434 million is now available for Puerto Rico 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.

Puerto Rico will be eligible to apply for another $214 million this fall. Today's funding is being made available per Puerto Rico's successful completion of Part 1 of the State Stabilization Application, which was made available on April 1st.    » read more »