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Democrats Call for Investigation of Practices in For-Profit Colleges | The New York Times reports that Congressional Democrats have asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate the quality and finances of for-profit colleges. The inquiry comes as concern grows over the “disproportionate share” of federal aid money going to for-profit institutions.
For-profit institutions account for only 10 percent of the nation’s students, but receive roughly [...]
McDonnell Proposes Expansion of Charter Schools in Virginia
By Alec Rivera
Published: February 15, 2010
McDonnell Proposes Expansion of Charter Schools in Virginia | The Washington Post reports that Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell has officially stated that he would like to see charter schools expanded in his state. Almost immediately after the announcement, critics began making the case that Virginia already had some of the country’s best schools (this is a well-known fact), but this alone should not be [...]
The Applications are In: Good, Bad, and Ugly in “Race to the Top”
By Alec Rivera
Published: February 3, 2010
The Applications are In: Good, Bad, and Ugly in "Race to the Top"President Barack Obama delivers remarks on "Race To the Top" at the Department of Education with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, left, in Washington, D.C. Friday, July 24, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson) | read this item
The Washington Post reports that several states are committed to the language of education reform (”global competitiveness”, “longitudinal data”, “transparency”, and “accountability”) but are far less keen toward the changes necessary to achieve that end. Applications for the Race to the Top (RTTT) program’s first round are in, and judging by the applicant pool, state [...]
Obama’s FY2011 Budget Gives Education Dept a 9.7 Percent Boost in Discretionary Spending
By Alec Rivera
Published: February 2, 2010
Obama's FY2011 Budget Gives Education Dept a 9.7 Percent Boost in Discretionary Spending | The Washington Post reports that President Obama has proposed a $50.7 billion budget for the Department of Education in the 2011 fiscal year. That is an increase of 9.7 percent from it’s current level. If Congress rewrites “No Child Left Behind”, an addition $1 billion has been appropriated to funding additional Pell Grants.
Within the proposed [...]
Senate Holds Up Bill to Take Banks Out of Student Loan Business
By Alec Rivera
Published: January 29, 2010
Senate Holds Up Bill to Take Banks Out of Student Loan Business | The Washington Post reports that the Senate bill to put the Federal government in charge of issuing student loans, rather than private banks, has stalled. The House passed a similar measure four months ago, a policy which the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) claims could save the government $80 billion over 10 years. President Obama asked [...]
In SOTU, Obama Shifts Message & Highlights Education
By Alec Rivera
Published: January 28, 2010
In SOTU, Obama Shifts Message & Highlights Education | Bloomberg reports that, in his first State of the Union address, President Obama shifted his focus from health care reform to the economy, jobs, and education. Key among his new proposals included a $10,000 college tax credit and debt-forgiveness for those who have been paying back their student loans for 20 years or more. The [...]
What’s the Next Cause for Congress? Education
By Alec Rivera
Published: January 21, 2010
What's the Next Cause for Congress? Education | The Atlantic Online reports that President Obama is expanding the Race to the Top (RTTT) program, originally introduced in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA). It places an emphasis on using student testing data to determine the effectiveness of teachers and raising standards to higher levels. For now, the contest will be state-based, but [...]
Obama “Get’s Schooled” in a Back-to-School Special
By Claudette Rhone
Published: August 19, 2009
Next month, President Obama will be featured in a back-to-school television program airing on BET, VH1, Comedy Central and other Viacom networks. The documentary is centered around promoting education and stresses the import role it has in shaping our future.
The special was created in support of a major education initiative sponsored by the Bill & Melinda [...]
Second Stimulus Meets Resistance From White House and Congress
By Demi Argiropoulos
Published: July 6, 2009
Vice President Joe Biden Via Examiner.com |
With the unemployment rate reaching 9.5% last month and expected to hit double digits before declining, Vice President Joe Biden said the administration “misread how bad the economy was” and did not predict such high job losses. His comments are likely to spur further calls for a second stimulus package, which some economists have already [...]
Michelle Obama Brings Class and Jazz and to the White House
By Claudette Rhone
Published: June 16, 2009
Life in the White House via Eric Draper
The first lady hosted a music festival for the finest music high schools in the United States including Duke Ellington school for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. totaling 150 students. They attended workshops from renowned music artists like Wynton Marsalis and Paquito D’Rivera. Students from Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz came all the way [...]