Topic: Arne Duncan

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Election 101: Where the GOP candidates stand on immigration, abortion and other social issues

Social policies are a defining issue in this, or any, Republican race. With the GOP electorate increasingly focused on social issues in recent decades, their leaders' views have shifted in kind. Take a look at where each of the candidates stand.
In Pictures: Turnaround schools

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Summer reading gets plug from US officials to keep kids sharp

The ‘Let’s Read. Let’s Move’ campaign is designed to combat the learning loss that can occur during the summer. Two cabinet secretaries touted summer reading at an event in Washington Wednesday.
Michelle Obama's next childhood obesity target: summer break

As part of her campaign against childhood obesity, Michelle Obama helped launch the ‘Let’s Read. Let’s Move.’ program involving exercise, healthy eating, and reading during the summer break.
In Texas, social studies textbooks get a conservative make-over

The Texas State Board of Education has approved controversial changes to social studies textbooks, pushing high school teaching in a more conservative direction.
Rhode Island school to rehire fired teachers, shelving drastic plan

Central Falls High School had fired its staff as part of a strategy for failing schools. Now, the Rhode Island school has reached a tentative agreement to keep the staff but make other changes.
Growthology
Grading the Presidential summit on entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurs from more than 50 countries gathered at the summit on entrepreneurship in Washington to learn how individual action can expand opportunity, especially in the Muslim world.
College sports: White House tweaks Title IX rules

Schools can no longer rely on a survey for female students about college sports to show that they are compliant with Title IX requirements, Biden announced Tuesday.
Crist veto a victory for teachers against merit-based pay

But many education reformers see the Crist veto in Florida as just a temporary setback in their quest to improve teaching and teacher compensation.
Letters to the Editor – Weekly Issue of April 5, 2010

Readers write in about deficits and taxation, using private money for nuclear power, and the No Child Left Behind law.
National education standards not a federal takeover of public schools

A big concern about proposed national education standards for grades K-12 is that they amount to a federal takeover of public schools. Not true. This plan originated from the states, is voluntary, and is backed by 48 governors.
Race to the Top winners: How did Delaware and Tennessee succeed?

In announcing the Race to the Top winners, Education Secretary Arne Duncan noted that both states had strong buy-in from almost all districts and teachers unions.
Will the student aid bill help with your college costs?

Congress is expected to vote this weekend not just on healthcare, but also on a student aid bill. Here’s a rundown of five key components in the legislation.
Sandra Bullock and the blind side of NCAA March Madness

A movie like "The Blind Side," with Sandra Bullock and depicting a real scholar-athlete, has a lesson for the NCAA in this March Madness: Get the graduation rates up for players, especially blacks. Otherwise, Uncle Sam may be on your case.
No Child Left Behind: Obama overhaul takes flak from both parties

Education Secretary Arne Duncan took the Obama administration's plans for No Child Left Behind to Capitol Hill Wednesday. Lawmakers were pleased but also had tough questions.
Education reform: Can poor test scores get a teacher fired?

In Houston, a controversial education reform measure allows teachers to be fired based on their students' test scores. Some parents back the policy, but teachers unions have reservations.
Obama's No Child Left Behind revise: a little more flexibility

The Obama administration is proposing fundamental changes to the Bush-era No Child Left Behind education reform policy, such as dropping the strict yearly progress goals.
Obama bends No Child Left Behind learning curve

The No Child Left Behind Act was fundamentally correct in demanding standards and testing of public schools. But the Obama plan would correct its flaws.
No Child Left Behind overhaul: five key things that would change

Here are five key changes that the Obama administration is proposing in an overhaul of the No Child Left Behind Act.
Obama's plan for education reform: short on specifics, so far

President Obama will send a framework for K-12 education reform to Congress on Monday, citing concern about students' lagging performance relative to that in some other industrialized nations.
Obama administration: more civil rights enforcement in schools

The Obama administration intends to step up enforcement of civil rights laws that apply to schools. Education Secretary Arne Duncan made the announcement in a speech in Selma, Ala., timed to commemorate the 45th anniversary of civil rights marches there.
Race to the Top: Which states made the list of finalists?

Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced Thursday that 15 states and the District of Columbia are finalists for Race to the Top education grants. The winners will be chosen in April.
All teachers fired at R.I. school. Will that happen elsewhere?

All the teachers at Central Falls High School in Rhode Island were fired by the board of trustees this week. More such cases are likely to arise across the US in the coming year because of pressure from the Obama administration – and the incentive of billions of federal dollars.
The New Economy
To improve school performance, fire all the teachers?

When high school teachers refused to work extra hours without pay, Central Falls, R.I., fired them all. Will that improve performance?
Education reform: Can Obama’s budget rescue No Child Left Behind?

His emphasis on incentives may win over critics. But that effort won’t be worth it if he also waters down standards with new ‘college and career readiness’ benchmarks.
Obama pushes to add $1.35 billion to Race to the Top grants

President Obama on Tuesday proposed extending his Race to the Top education reform program another year. But some teacher's unions and school districts are fighting the reforms.
Will a longer school day help close the achievement gap?

A longer school day can help improve student test scores, closing the achievement gap. But critics question the cost of those additional hours.