Press Releases

U.S. Department of Education Announces Resolution of White Plains, N.Y., Public Schools Civil Rights Investigation

The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced today that it has entered into a resolution agreement with the White Plains, N.Y., Public Schools.

Education Department Announces Next Rounds of Race to the Top, Including Another Key Investment to Expand Access to High-Quality Early Learning Opportunities

The U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced they will invest the majority of the 2013 Race to the Top funds for a second Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge competition. About $370 million will be available this year for states to develop new approaches to increase high-quality early learning opportunities and close the school readiness gap.

U.S. Department of Education Announces New Hearings for Conversations on Higher Education Rulemaking

The U.S.

Thirteen States Receive Funding to Turn Around Persistently Lowest Achieving Schools

Today, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced that thirteen states will receive funding to turn around their persistently lowest achieving schools through the School Improvement Grants (SIG) program.

Obama Administration 2014 Budget Prioritizes Key Education Investments to Provide Opportunities for All Americans

The Obama Administration continued to prioritize education in the 2014 budget released today by proposing key investments in education that would strengthen the middle class, grow the economy and provide opportunities for success to all Americans – especially our nation's most vulnerable children.

Education Department Launches 2013 Investing in Innovation Competition

The U.S. Department of Education announced the start of the $150 million 2013 Investing in Innovation (i3) grant competition today with the release of the program's invitation for pre-applications for the i3 "Development" grant category and the notice of final priorities for the i3 program overall.

Department of Education Statement on Request for Flexibility from California's Core District Consortium

Our strong preference and focus in the ESEA flexibility process remains on working with states, including California, if it decides to seek ESEA flexibility for the upcoming school year.

While California does not currently have an ESEA flexibility application under review, we have received a waiver request from CORE, a unique consortium of California districts.

Education Department Launches New Loan Counseling Tools to Help Borrowers Manage Their Debt

Students who are graduating this spring are now able to take advantage of new tools that can help them better understand their loan debt and stay on track in repayment. The U.S.

Education Department Releases Guidance on Providing Title IV Eligibility for Competency-Based Learned Programs

Today the U.S. Department of Education issued guidance for higher education institutions that offer competency-based programs in which students learn at their own pace – but that currently do not offer federal student aid.

U.S. Department of Education Announces 10 States Will Receive Funding to Turn Around Their Lowest-Performing Schools

Today, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced that 10 states will receive funding to turn around their persistently lowest-achieving schools through the Department's School Improvement Grant (SIG) program.