Education

October 6, 2009 -- SANTA FE – New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson today announced more than $24 million in federal stimulus funds will go to schools, colleges, tribes and other agencies to improve energy efficiency all over New Mexico. The New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department has awarded funding to 28 projects selected through a competitive process.    » read more »

October 6, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska – Alaska Governor Sean Parnell today unveiled a proposal that would allow all Alaska high school students to earn tuition scholarships for use after high school at qualifying Alaska schools. The Governor’s Performance Scholarship, or GPS, is a merit-based scholarship for Alaska high school students. To qualify, students will have to take four years of math, language arts and science, in addition to three years of social studies.

“We’ve seen too many young people leave high school without graduating and too many young people need remedial help after graduating high school,” Governor Parnell said. “I want to set the bar higher for our high school students to promote preparedness.”    » 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 »

Announces Rural Health and Education Grants to Help Elderly Living in Rural Areas

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30, 2009 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced more than $1.5 million in grants to support the Rural Health and Safety Education Program, which helps rural families cope with aging, eldercare and caregiving, and rural healthcare. Vilsack also today noted the healthcare disparity that exists for those who live in rural America.    » read more »

Formula Funding Delivered to States

October 1, 2009 -- U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced today the distribution of more than $21.8 billion in formula grants to support state-administered programs that support teachers and help students reach high standards.

Formula grant programs are noncompetitive awards based on a predetermined formula and provide funding for a variety of programs, including resources to improve teacher quality, career and technical education, and support for children facing the challenges of living in poverty. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B grant program supports children and students with disabilities from ages 3 to 21.    » read more »

Legislation Would Bolster NOAA’s Key Environmental Literacy Programs

WASHINGTON (September 25)—Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-CA) this week introduced H.R. 3644, a bill to bolster the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) environmental and conservation education programs.

The new bill would authorize a national Environmental Literacy Grant program as well as a regional Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program focused on local watersheds education. The legislation gradually increases funding levels over 5 years for both grant programs and authorizes new regional B-WET programs in major watersheds nationwide.

Kevin Coyle, Vice President of Education and Training, said:    » read more »

New Jersey First State to a Launch 'Promise Communities' Initiative in Pilot Cities of Newark and Camden; Newark National Pilot Site for ‘Bold Approach' Initiative Using Private Funds

September 28, 2009 -- NEWARK -- New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine today unveiled two new initiatives aimed at strengthening school and community programming for children at-risk of being recruited and victimized by violent street gangs. The programs - ‘Promise Communities' and ‘Bold Approach' - are designed to keep children in school and on a path to college and a career.    » read more »

Joins Hundreds at UIC to Rally for More Scholarship Funds

CHICAGO – September 29, 2009 -- Illinois Governor Pat Quinn today joined hundreds of Illinois college students at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Student Center in an effort to rescue the Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP). Those attending the Governor’s Town Hall Meeting to Save College Scholarships rally called on the Illinois General Assembly to restore critical second-semester MAP funding for nearly 138,000 eligible students.    » read more »

NASA funding will launch research center for optical sciences

September 30, 2009 -- DOVER – Delaware Governor Jack Markell praised Delaware State University’s receipt of a $5 million grant from NASA that will allow the university to establish an Optical Sciences Center for Applied Research (OSCAR) on its campus.

The center will foster new NASA-related science and technology developments based on optical sciences and technology, enhance the aerospace science and technology workforce, and develop partnerships with industry, NASA research centers and other federal laboratories, and minority and non minority-serving colleges and universities.. Specific research areas include Planetary Science, Space Communications & Navigation, and Astrobiology.    » read more »

Sept. 30, 2009 -- LAKEWOOD -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter was joined today by leaders in education and energy to announce two new educational tools that will help strengthen Colorado's clean energy workforce: a community college green jobs certificate and a green jobs guidebook.

"Colorado's New Energy Economy is leading America toward a new energy future, and Colorado's community colleges are leading the way," Gov. Ritter said during an announcement ceremony at Red Rocks Community College. "This new certificate program and guidebook will serve as a national model as we provide students and the workforce with the skills, knowledge and opportunities they need in order to succeed in the New Energy Economy."    » read more »

Sept. 29, 2009 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter announced today he has directed more than $7 million in federal Recovery Act funds to support nearly 10 different K-12 education programs to help reduce the dropout rate, enhance teacher compensation, and improve Colorado's chances of winning a federal "Race to the Top" competitive grant next year.

"These investments reflect my ongoing commitment to the promise that all Colorado students be given an equal opportunity to succeed," Gov. Ritter said. "Using Recovery Act funds to grow innovative programs will strengthen Colorado's education system and maintain the momentum for education reform we've created over the past few years."    » read more »

September 17, 2009 -- “Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to give America's college students the biggest increase in financial aid since the GI Bill. The bill will guarantee increases for the Pell Grant program for the 2010-11 year and beyond. It will overhaul federal student loans to make them more efficient while saving taxpayers billions of dollars over the next decade.

A share of the savings will also help reduce the deficit and promote high quality early childhood programs. It will support Historically Black Colleges and Universities, ensuring that these critically important institutions are integral to institutional improvement efforts at both the national and state levels.    » read more »

September 17, 2009 -- Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius praised progress made by Congress today as the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA), HR 3221, passed the U.S. House of Representatives.

The bill would move away from subsidizing private lenders to a direct loan program and reinvest nearly $90 billion in savings over the next 10 years into several initiatives, including the Early Learning Challenge Fund, which will be jointly administered by the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.    » read more »

August 27, 2009 -- The U.S. Department of Education has awarded more than $2.7 million to eight vocational education programs on Oahu and on the 'big island' of Hawaii to support career and technical education efforts helping Native Hawaiians. The grants are awarded under the Native Hawaiian Career and Technical Education Program (NHCTEP), which provides assistance to projects aimed at increasing vocational enrollment and course completion by Native Hawaiian students.

Five of the NHCTEP grants are being awarded to programs operated by ALU LIKE, Inc., the statewide non-profit service organization for Native Hawaiians.    » 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 »