$3.5 billion in Title I School Improvement grants to turn around the nation’s lowest performing schools. The applications are now available at http://www.ed.gov/programs/sif/applicant.html and are due into the Department of Education by Feb. 8, 2010.

President Obama has launched an “Educate to Innovate” campaign to improve the participation and performance of America’s students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

“The president and I believe that ensuring our nation’s children are excelling in the STEM fields is essential for our nation’s prosperity, security, health and quality of life,” Secretary Duncan said. “All of us need to be engaged in task of improving STEM education. Business leaders and major donors are leading the way, and leaders from other sectors need to join them.”

“The president said last week that Race to the Top will require states to take an all-hands-on-deck approach,” Duncan said. “We will award grants to the states that have led the way in reform and will show the way for the rest of the country to follow.”

August 24, 2009
As announced by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today, the education and technology company Pearson has developed a “Continuity of Learning” plan to continue students’ education if school attendance is disrupted due to the H1N1 virus or other crisis events.

5 billion in Title I funding is being made available early to districts for schools that serve high concentrations of students from families that live in poverty. These funds are available to support innovative strategies in Title I schools that improve education for at-risk students, close achievement gaps, and stimulate local economies. Likewise, $6.1 billion in early IDEA funding provides states, school districts and early intervention service providers with additional support for innovative strategies to improve outcomes for infants, toddlers, children and youths with disabilities while stimulating the economy.

August 2nd, 2009
NACUBO and ACE are hosting a higher education policy webinar at 2 pm EDT on Friday, August 7, 2009. Featured guests include Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Under Secretary Martha Kanter, and Deputy Under Secretary Robert Shireman. The group plans to focus on the Obama Administration’s higher education agenda, and will allow for a Q&A session. If you are interested in participating in this special opportunity, you must register for the event beforehand.

Friday, July 24th, 2009
To every governor who aspires to be his state’s “education governor,” this is your moment. Today, President Obama is to announce the draft guidelines for applying for the $4.35 billion Race to the Top fund — by far the largest pot of discretionary funding for K-12 education reform in the history of the United States.

May 7th, 2009
In a global economy where the most valuable skill you can sell is your knowledge, a good education is no longer just a pathway to opportunity— it is a pre-requisite. The countries that out-teach us today will out-compete us tomorrow.
—President Barack Obama, Feb. 24, 2009