U.S. Department of Education Blog

The Office of Postsecondary Education convened a symposium this week as part of its effort to drive a national conversation and focus on increasing college completion.  About 60 of the nation’s leading researchers, practitioners, and policy experts gathered at the … Continue reading →

More than 350 community leaders came together last Saturday in Phoenix for the White House’s Hispanic Community Action Summit at the ASU-Downtown Campus. Arizona civic leaders joined in thought-provoking discussions and analysis of a wide-range of policy areas, but on … Continue reading →

“Teacher voice is needed in order for real reform to take place,” Secretary Arne Duncan told the leaders of Teach Plus on Tuesday. Teach Plus is a national nonprofit teacher leader organization that was celebrating its expansion to the nation’s … Continue reading →

On January 31, the Department of Education hosted its quarterly conference call for education funders. Secretary Arne Duncan addressed the Department’s priorities as highlighted in the President’s State of the Union address, providing more details on the Administration’s initiatives to … Continue reading →

To follow up on the President’s State of the Union Address—in which critical topics like college affordability, dropout rates, teachers, and job training were addressed—Secretary Duncan will engage with the Hispanic community through a Twitter town hall at 3:00 p.m. … Continue reading →

If you made payments on your federal student loans during 2011, you may be eligible to deduct a portion of the interest you paid on your federal tax return.  Student loan interest payments are reported on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) … Continue reading →

“We have a set of amazing teachers each year who spend a year with the Department and help drive our policy discussion…I have come to rely on the Teaching Ambassador Fellows for their invaluable feedback and their ability to facilitate … Continue reading →

Last month, state and local leaders from the 11 states and the District of Columbia receiving funds from Phases 1 and 2 of the U.S. Department of Education’s Race to the Top program met in Washington, D.C.  Participants explored teacher … Continue reading →

Last week President Obama asked us to work together to create an America built to last — one that thrives on innovation, collaboration, affordable education and spending within our means.   As part of this effort, the U.S. Department of Education … Continue reading →

“… The degree you earn from Michigan will be the best tool you have to achieve that basic American promise … be part of something that is adding value to this country and maybe changing the world.  …That’s what the … Continue reading →

How do we meet the diverse needs of the 21st century scholar and meet the President’s 2020 goal of once again leading the world in college graduation rates? This is the challenge Secretary Duncan posed to researchers, policy experts, and … Continue reading →

Earlier today Under Secretary of Education Martha Kanter joined Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) at the University of Maryland Baltimore to announce new efforts from the Department of Education to help public servants—including veterans, nurses, and teachers—take advantage of Public Service … Continue reading →

Cross-posted from the White House Blog. In 2005 when I first began working with the Alamance-Burlington School System in North Carolina to start a college access and career awareness program, “What’s After High School?,” this quote in the office at … Continue reading →

“The way we’re going to bring in and keep the great jobs in this country is by having the most educated workforce,” Secretary Duncan said last week at a town hall in Pembroke Pines, Fla. Speaking with a large group … Continue reading →

How can interactive technology and game-based learning help engage students to learn? The next great teaching frontier is light years away from chalk and erasers. Outside the classroom, students are fascinated and engaged in interactive technology and game-based activities.  If … Continue reading →

Cross-posted from the White House Blog. In the State of the Union, President Obama made a point to talk about two critically important trends when it comes to education. First, if you look at unemployment rates broken down by education level, … Continue reading →

As a 9th grade counselor at St. Louis Park Senior High School in suburban Minneapolis, Angie Jerabek was jarred by the 45 percent failure rate posted by the school’s freshmen in 1998.  She responded to the challenge by developing a … Continue reading →

With many schools’ FAFSA deadlines quickly approaching, FAFSA season is heating up. Last night, Under Secretary of Education Martha Kanter took to Twitter to answer some pressing questions students & parents had about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. … Continue reading →

Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of vising Dilworth STEM Academy for 7th and 8th graders in Sparks, Nevada to meet with Washoe County School District (WCSD) leadership and school staff. This district serves 63,000 and has had amazing success … Continue reading →

“Teachers matter. So instead of bashing them, or defending the status quo, let’s offer schools a deal.  Give them the resources to keep good teachers on the job, and reward the best ones. In return, grant schools flexibility:  To teach with creativity … Continue reading →