U.S. Department of Education Stakeholders Forum to Focus on Progress of School Improvement Grantees Article
April 16, 2012On Thursday, April 26, from 10:00–11:00 a.m., the U.S. Department of Education will hold a stakeholders forum focusing on the progress of School Improvement Grant (SIG) recipients as they work to effectively turn around low-performing schools across the country.
SIG-NIFICANT FUNDING, SIG-NIFICIANT IMPROVEMENT?: U.S. Education Secretary Duncan Reports “Very Encouraging Signs” Based on Initial Data; Outside Analyses Find School Improvement Grants Program a “Work in Progress” Article
April 16, 2012Over the last few weeks, the federal School Improvement Grant (SIG) program, which targets the nation’s lowest-performing schools, has been in the spotlight as the initial pieces of data on the program’s results start to emerge.
Correction to the September 7 Issue of Straight A’s Article
September 20, 2010Reporting on the Fiscal Year 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education appropriations bill, the September 7 issue of Straight A’s noted that Senate Appropriations Committee included a provision directing 40 percent of School Improvement Grants program to be used to turn around the five thousand lowest-performing secondary schools.
GRADUATING AMERICA: New Report Examines the Opportunity for High School Reform at the Local, State, and Federal Level Article
August 10, 2009A new report from Jobs for the Future and The Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University takes a look at seventeen states described as the “make or break” places to reaching President Obama’s goal of making America first in educational attainment.
UPSIDE DOWN: New Alliance Brief Says Federal Education Policy Needs to be Flipped Article
August 10, 2009A new policy brief from the Alliance for Excellent Education argues that federal education policy needs to be flipped on its head if the nation is to graduate all students from high school, prepared for college and careers.
WHOLE-SCHOOL REFORM: New Alliance Brief Calls for Comprehensive Approach to Transform the Nation’s Low-Performing High Schools Article
July 27, 2009To address a crisis in which one third of students do not graduate from high school and another third graduate unprepared for the rigors of college and careers, reform efforts must focus on the systemic improvement of low-performing high schools.
PREPARING THE WORKERS OF TODAY FOR THE JOBS OF TOMORROW: President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers Finds Occupations Requiring Higher Education Will Grow Faster Than Occupations That Do Not Article
July 27, 2009Between now and 2016, occupations that require higher educational attainment are projected to grow much faster than those with lower education requirements, with the fastest growth coming from occupations that require an associate’s degree or a postsecondary vocational award.
RACE TO THE TOP: Obama, Duncan Outline Requirements of $4.35 Billion Program Article
July 27, 2009On July 24, President Obama joined U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to announce the criteria states must meet to win a competitive grant under the $4.35 billion Race to the Top Fund.
EDUCATION SECRETARY OUTLINES OBAMA EDUCATION AGENDA: In Appearance Before House Committee, Duncan Stresses Reform Component of Stimulus Bill, Need to Improve High Schools Article
June 01, 2009On May 20, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan appeared before the House Committee on Education and Labor to discuss President Obama’s education agenda.
“STRENGTHENING AMERICA’S COMPETITIVENESS THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL REFORM”: Alliance President Among Witnesses to Appear Before Congressional Committee Article
May 18, 2009On May 12, the House Committee on Education and Labor held a hearing to examine how policies for addressing the high school dropout crisis and improving graduation rates can strengthen America’s economic competitiveness.