Education

November 17, 2009 -- ST. LOUIS - For the second year in a row, in-state, undergraduate students at Missouri's four-year, public colleges and universities won't see tuition or academic fees rise by a penny.

That's the good news Missouri Governor Jay Nixon announced today during visits to the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Missouri State University in Springfield.    » read more »

Following New Report from USDA Showing Unprecedented Rise in Hunger, Brown Emphasizes Need to Enroll More Children in Nutrition Programs

November 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Hunger, Nutrition and Family Farms, attended a hearing today of the Senate Agriculture Committee entitled, "Opportunities to Fight Hunger and Improve Child Health."

Brown emphasized the need to pass his Hunger Free Schools Act, which would help enroll more students who qualify for nutrition assistance in the school lunch program by increasing the program's efficiency through technology improvements and paperwork reduction.    » read more »

NEA study finds digital divide narrowing in U.S. public schools; Parents overwhelmingly view Internet as help, use email as main communication tool with teacher

WASHINGTON - November 16, 2009 - Poll results released today show the digital gap is increasingly becoming a thing of the past in America’s public schools. The National Education Association and Harris Interactive have released the results of an Omnibus poll showing parents have embraced the benefits of Internet at school and even use the technology to communicate with their children’s teachers.    » read more »

Emphasizes importance of science, technology, engineering and math education

November 16, 2009 --
DALLAS – Texas Governor Rick Perry today was joined by Texas Workforce commissioners Andres Alcantar and Ronnie Congleton, Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott and business leaders to announce a $1 million investment from the Texas Workforce Commission to expand statewide student participation in robotics education programs.

The governor emphasized the importance of preparing young Texans to work in an increasingly competitive global economy by promoting programs that integrate science, technology, engineering and math into Texas classrooms.    » read more »

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 12, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that 111 projects in 35 states have been selected to receive more than $34.9 million in grants to increase educational opportunities and expand access to health care services in rural areas. The funding will be provided through USDA Rural Development's Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program.

Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager made the announcement on behalf of Vilsack while attending the annual meeting of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting in Kansas City, Mo.    » read more »

November 12, 2009 -- U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today released the final application for more than $4 billion from the Race to the Top Fund, which will reward states that have raised student performance in the past and have the capacity to accelerate achievement gains with innovative reforms.

"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."

The U.S. Department of Education is asking states to build comprehensive and coherent plans built around the four areas of reform outlined in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.    » read more »

WASHINGTON - November 12, 2009 - The U.S. Department of Education today unveiled the final regulations and application governing its $4.3 billion Race to the Top competitive grant program, which is designed to enable states to enact education reforms that improve student achievement.

The following statement can be attributed to NEA President Dennis Van Roekel:

“We applaud Secretary of Education Arne Duncan for taking the right steps to put a spotlight on what needs to happen in our classrooms—principally, for America’s schoolchildren.

“If done right, we believe Race to the Top grants will accelerate education reform at the state and local levels, and they will go a long way toward ensuring great public schools for every student in the long run.    » read more »

WASHINGTON -- November 13, 2009 -- Today at a press conference at the Green Earth Bio-Fuel of Kentucky site in Estill County, Congressman Ben Chandler announced $984,000 in federal funding to Bluegrass PRIDE (Personal Responsibility In a Desirable Environment) to fund a grants program, environmental education in schools and communities, and the development of a strategic plan to shape Central Kentucky’s environmental future. Clark, Estill, Garrard, Lincoln, Madison, Montgomery, and Powell Counties in the Sixth Congressional District and Nicholas County are eligible for these programs.    » read more »

November 9, 2009 -- Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that application requirements for the final $11.5 billion in State Fiscal Stabilization Funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 are now available. In exchange for this unprecedented funding boost, the department is asking states to provide some basic information on teacher distribution, the collection and use of data, standards and assessments, and support for struggling schools.    » read more »

Better Positions Wisconsin to Compete for Federal Race to the Top Funds

November 10, 2009 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today signed into law Senate Bills 370, 371, 372 and 373, which take the first steps toward reforming education in Wisconsin and ensuring every student has a chance to succeed. Governor Doyle signed the laws at Wright Middle School just days after President Obama visited the school to call for states to make significant education reform. The bills take important steps to align Wisconsin with federal education reform goals laid out by the President and position Wisconsin to compete for Race to the Top funds.    » read more »

Executive Order Makes California Eligible for Millions of Dollars in Federal Head Start Funds

11/09/2009 -- Building on his commitment to both high-quality early childhood education and bringing available American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) funding to California, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued Executive Order S-23-09 establishing the California State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care. This is the first step in making California eligible to compete for a share of $100 million in federal Head Start funds available through President Obama’s Recovery Act.    » read more »

Veterans' Affairs Committee Leaders Suggest Improvements on GI Bill Processing

November 9, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) and Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-North Carolina) wrote Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to suggest ways to improve the processing of the post-9/11 GI Bill.

"Men and women at VA are working hard and working overtime to reduce the backlog of new GI Bill claims. This is a huge transition, and I hope our suggestions will help the Department speed up the process," said Akaka. "I want Secretary Shinseki to know that I am committed to helping him do whatever needs to be done - whether that be in resources or legislation."

The letter outlines potential improvements, including:    » read more »

Nov. 6, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- NASA is accepting applications from students at U.S. colleges and universities who want to send their experiments to the edge of space on a high-flying scientific balloon.

The annual NASA project provides near space access for 12 undergraduate and graduate student experiments to be carried by a NASA high-altitude research balloon. The flights typically last 15 to 20 hours and reach an altitude of 23 miles. Experiments may include compact satellites or prototypes.    » read more »

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 »