schools

November 4, 2009 -- HONOLULU – Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle has released $75,000,000 to the Department of Education for capital improvements at public schools statewide. The funds were appropriated by the Legislature this past legislative session for building and campus facility improvements, repairs and maintenance at Hawai‘i public schools.    » read more »

Bill Helps High Schoolers Bike and Walk Safely to School

06 November 2009 -- Washington, DC – Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore) today introduced the Safe Routes to High Schools Act, H.R. 4021, which would expand the popular Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) program to include high schools. SRTS works with parents, schools, community leaders and local, state, and federal governments to improve kids’ health by enabling them to walk and bike to class.    » read more »

Promoting Innovation, Reform, and Excellence in America’s Public Schools

November 04, 2009 --
“America will not succeed in the 21st century unless we do a far better job of educating our sons and daughters… And the race starts today. I am issuing a challenge to our nation’s governors and school boards, principals and teachers, businesses and non-profits, parents and students: if you set and enforce rigorous and challenging standards and assessments; if you put outstanding teachers at the front of the classroom; if you turn around failing schools – your state can win a Race to the Top grant that will not only help students outcompete workers around the world, but let them fulfill their God-given potential.”

- President Barack Obama
July 24, 2009    » read more »

October 14, 2009 -- Washington, DC - The Sierra Club, with the Sierra Student Coalition today launched the second in its series of online video ads, part of its nationwide campaign to kick coal off campuses. With organizers on the ground in several of the more than 60 campuses with on-site coal plants, the Campaign is working to transition schools to 100% clean energy.

The second ad takes the stereotypically “dirty” college behavior of the first ad and bumps it up a notch. Though college life allows for leniency in the socially acceptable, coal still crosses the line. Watch the ad here: http://www.2dirty4college.com/    » read more »

ARRA bonds to fund energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy installations at public schools

October 14, 2009 -- FREDERICKSBURG -- Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced the availability of $119 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) bond authorizations for local school divisions to finance energy efficiency improvements and renovations, as well as renewable energy projects for public school buildings.    » read more »

October 05, 2009 -- Fewer secondary schools in the United States are selling less nutritious foods and beverages, such as candy and soda, according to a survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The greatest improvements were seen in states that have adopted strong school nutrition standards and policies for foods and beverages sold outside school meal programs.

The report, “Availability of Less Nutritious Snack Foods and Beverages in Secondary Schools – Selected States, 2002-2008,” was published today in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.    » read more »

Secretary Duncan Announces $3.5 Billion in Title I School Improvement Grants to Fund Transformational Changes Where Children Have Long Been Underserved

August 26, 2009 -- Today, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced draft requirements for $3.5 billion in Title I School Improvement grants to turn around the nation's lowest performing schools.    » read more »

House Bill 4102 provides relief to school districts affected by disasters

August 28, 2009 -- BEAUMONT – Texas Governor Rick Perry today announced the state has authorized more than $62.8 million to reimburse school districts for the cost of repairs incurred as a result of Hurricane Ike. The reimbursements are part of House Bill 4102, which provides relief for school districts impacted by disasters or other emergencies.    » read more »

August 28, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced that approximately 700 school districts and charter schools across the State will receive more than $900 million through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The funding, administered by the New York State Education Department, will be used to support school improvement efforts that address both teaching and learning. The grants have been allocated to most school districts, particularly those in low-income communities where the need is great.    » read more »

6/19/2009 -- Raleigh -- North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue today signed Senate Bill 754, enabling North Carolina schools to use interest-free bonds for school construction, repair and renovation as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

“Our children need a welcoming and encouraging learning environment, one that makes them excited to come to school every day,” Perdue said. “These bonds create a win-win situation – new jobs and better classrooms.”

The bill enables local education agencies to administer $275,772,000 in bonding authority for new, qualified school construction bonds (QSCB) and gives $56,699,000 in bonding authority to continue qualified zone academy bonds (QZAB).    » read more »

June 19, 2009 -- AUGUSTA – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci today signed LD 285, An Act to Amend the Laws Governing the Consolidation of School Administrative Units to Delay All Penalties for One Year.

“Our intention has never been to punish school districts,” Governor Baldacci said. “What we want is a more efficient and affordable system that puts available resources to work for students instead of paying for unnecessary administration.”

“After careful consideration, I have decided to sign this legislation, which will delay penalties for one year for school districts that have not reorganized. This delay will give those districts working in good faith toward restructuring time to complete their work.”    » read more »

Legislation Prompted by Sudden Death of NFA Student

June 18, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today signed a bill that makes automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) available in schools and ensures at least two staff members are trained to use the live-saving equipment.

“This is legislation is intended to do one thing – save lives, precious lives,” Governor Rell said during a bill-signing ceremony at Norwich Free Academy. “It is in the best interest of our children and our communities.”    » read more »

Ohio Ranks 15th in Nation for Food Insecurity; Legislation Would Expand USDA Program to Include Ohio

June 9, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced his support for legislation that would expand existing United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) after-school nutrition programs to include Ohio and 39 other states. The After-School Flexibility to Expand Reimbursement for School Meals Act (AFTERSchool Meals Act), introduced by Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Dick Lugar (R-IN), and cosponsored by Brown, would make institutions eligible for reimbursement for meals provided to at-risk school children during after-school hours.    » read more »

BENTONVILLE, Ark., June 9, 2009 – Small, every day changes can make a big difference to the environment. Twenty schools from across the country that have put this idea into practice are being recognized for their efforts: they’ve been named finalists in the Walmart “Earth Day Every Day School Challenge.”    » read more »

June 8, 2009 -- U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said today that school reforms should be monitored and judged by results that can be backed up by research proving their effectiveness.

Speaking at the fourth annual conference of the Institute of Education Sciences, Duncan told an audience of education researchers that supporting states' efforts to build warehouses of data on student achievement is one of his top priorities.

"Education reform is not about sweeping mandates or grand gestures," Duncan told the group of researchers who conduct research for IES, which is an independent section of the Education Department. "It's about systematically examining and learning, building on what we've done right, and scrapping what hasn't worked for kids."    » read more »