ED Announces 31 Finalists for $120 Million RTT-D

Posted on November 27, 2013September 12, 2020 by coreeducation

The U.S. Department of Education announced that 31 applications have been selected as finalists for the Race to the Top-District (RTTT-D) competition. The 2013 RTTT-D program will provide close to $120 million to support locally developed plans to personalize and improve student learning, directly increase student achievement and educator effectiveness, close achievement gaps, and prepare Read more about ED Announces 31 Finalists for $120 Million RTT-D[…]

Studies Cast Doubt on Race to the Top

Posted on October 9, 2013September 12, 2020 by coreeducation

Two recent studies have shown that Race to the Top, the Obama Administration’s signature education initiative to help states close achievement gaps, has not lived up to its billing. The first, by Elaine Weiss of the Broader, Bolder Approach to Education, argues that a lack of time, resources, and tools to address opportunity gaps puts Read more about Studies Cast Doubt on Race to the Top[…]

Are Personalized Learning Environments the Next Wave of K-12 Education Reform?

Posted on September 17, 2013September 17, 2013 by coreeducation

The first of the U.S. Department of Education’s Race to the Top District grantees proposed reforms for personalized learning environments that challenge every aspect of the traditional school culture, including what is taught, how it is taught, and where it is taught. Now, as the Department of Education invites districts to apply for a portion Read more about Are Personalized Learning Environments the Next Wave of K-12 Education Reform?[…]

Report Explores Opportunities to Promote Data in Classrooms

Posted on July 30, 2013 by coreeducation

A new report from Ed Money Watch explores the use of student achievement data to improve classroom instruction. The paper, Promoting Data in the Classroom: Innovative State Models and Missed Opportunities, highlights examples from two states, Oregon and Delaware, of federally funded, state-driven efforts to equip teachers with the tools they need to utilize student Read more about Report Explores Opportunities to Promote Data in Classrooms[…]

Federal Education Budget Update

Posted on May 29, 2013 by coreeducation

New America’s education experts have deciphered the 2013 and 2014 budget actions, with a particular view to how they affect education. In the report, “Federal Education Budget Update: Fiscal Year 2013 Recap and Fiscal Year 2014 Early Analysis,” Jason Delisle and Clare McCann explore congressional budget actions over the past year and describe the effects Read more about Federal Education Budget Update[…]

Department of Education Letter Could Put Cracks in the Credit Hour

Posted on April 18, 2013March 3, 2020 by coreeducation

In an update to the story that this blog has been tracking for some time (see our two past blogs about this subject here and here), the US Department of Education has given its strongest confirmation yet that it is willing to embrace a model of judging educational progress and mastery that transcends the credit Read more about Department of Education Letter Could Put Cracks in the Credit Hour[…]

ED Launches 2013 i3 Competition

Posted on April 14, 2013 by coreeducation

The U.S. Department of Education announced the start of the $150 million 2013 Investing in Innovation (i3) grant competition with the release of the program’s invitation for pre-applications for the i3 “Development” grant category and the notice of final priorities for the i3 program overall. The announcement incorporates several improvements the Department has made to Read more about ED Launches 2013 i3 Competition[…]

Education Department promises $15 million to School Turnaround AmeriCorps program

Posted on March 18, 2013 by coreeducation

The U.S. Education Department has announced funding for a new AmeriCorps grant program focused on School Turnaround. This action extends the Together for Tomorrow program that focuses on increased community engagement in low-performing schools. Below is the explanation from the Education Department blog: U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Wendy Spencer, chief executive officer Read more about Education Department promises $15 million to School Turnaround AmeriCorps program[…]

Education Department Demands more Evidence

Posted on February 19, 2013 by coreeducation

Big changes may be coming in the way the Department of Education selects grant recipients. Last year, the Office of Management and Budget issued a memo to federal agencies requiring them to demonstrate the use of evidence in their fiscal 2014 budget requests. This new requirement signals a shift of emphasis toward the use of Read more about Education Department Demands more Evidence[…]

Federal Education Funding: What do we know?

Posted on February 18, 2013 by coreeducation

Jason Delisle and Clare McCann at Ed Money Watch have put together a very helpful breakdown of what all of the Congressional complications surrounding the budget mean for education. We have shortened their summary into a few definitions of key terms to understand: Continuing Resolution: As of now, the US budget is functioning under a Read more about Federal Education Funding: What do we know?[…]

What are states doing with their Race to the Top funding?

Posted on February 7, 2013September 12, 2020 by coreeducation

On February 1, 2013, the U.S. Department of Education released state-specific reports for 12 Race to the Top grantees, detailing their progress on transforming education at the local level. The reports highlight the second-year work and accomplishments of states awarded funding through the first two phases of Race to the Top: Delaware, the District of Read more about What are states doing with their Race to the Top funding?[…]

California’s Request for NCLB Waiver Rejected

Posted on January 14, 2013 by coreeducation

The California Department of Education, currently the lightning rod for national education policy, was recently denied a No Child Left Behind waiver by the U.S. Department of Education. A total of 33 states and the District of Columbia have thus far been granted NCLB waivers, with 10 more states’ waiver applications pending. This means that Read more about California’s Request for NCLB Waiver Rejected[…]

The delayed Fiscal Cliff: Where does Education stand?

Posted on January 7, 2013September 12, 2020 by coreeducation

The budgetary compromise reached by the House and Senate on January 1 that puts off major funding decisions until March has been hailed by some, especially those who see it as preventing some of the largest ever across-the-board cuts to government programs and those hoping that it will act as a building block to a Read more about The delayed Fiscal Cliff: Where does Education stand?[…]

16 Race to the Top District Winners Announced

Posted on December 12, 2012September 12, 2020 by coreeducation

On December 11, 2012, the Education Department announced the 16 winners of the Race to the Top school district grants (RTTD). 61 Finalists had been announced recently out of an original 372 districts that turned in applications in November. A total of $400 million was due to go out, and winners ranged from $10 million Read more about 16 Race to the Top District Winners Announced[…]

The Top Five Obama Administration Education Policy Misses

Posted on December 4, 2012 by coreeducation

Yesterday we posted information from Higher Ed Watch’s blog about the biggest hits in higher education of the Obama Administration. Today, we look at the five biggest misses of this administration. Since Education Department secretary Arne Duncan has suggested that he plans to stay in his position and keep the Education Department on the same Read more about The Top Five Obama Administration Education Policy Misses[…]

Race to the Top-District Finalists Announced

Posted on November 27, 2012 by coreeducation

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Education announced that 61 applications have been selected as finalists for the Race to the Top-District (RTTT-D) competition. The 2012 RTTT-D program will provide close to $400 million to support locally developed plans to personalize and deepen student learning, directly improve student achievement and educator effectiveness, close achievement gaps, and Read more about Race to the Top-District Finalists Announced[…]