Office of the Deputy Secretary

Archive of Policy Initiatives of Previous Administrations

Clinton Administration Initiatives

Voluntary National Tests

Today, not all of America's children are being challenged to reach high standards. Across the nation, however, parents and educators are working to change the odds for our kids. The idea behind the voluntary national tests is to further help parents and educators make improvements in teaching and learning. Voluntary national tests would provide detailed information about what students know and can do compared to rigorous national and international standards. Along with students' performance on every item, parents and teachers would be able to review every test item and answer, read guidance on how to correctly answer test items, and use practice items to help students better understand the concepts and skills underlying the test items.

High Hopes for College and Think College Early

These are two initiatives that focus on providing information on colleges to young students and their parents. High Hopes for College is a proposed discretionary grants program that would allow at least one middle grade school in a high-poverty area to partner with a college or university, and at least two other partners, to learn about college and what it takes to get there over the course of six years. Think College Early is a public information campaign to get the right information on preparing for college out to middle grades students and their parents, and to enlist the help of schools, businesses, colleges and universities, and community and arts organizations -- all those who touch the life of a middle grades child.

Technology

Through efforts initiated under the Improving America's Schools Act and through long-term programs, the Department of Education promotes the use of technology in schools, libraries, and communities to achieve its mission of ensuring equal access to education and promoting educational excellence throughout the nation. The Office of Educational Technology creates policy and provides oversight for the Department's technology initiatives. The Deputy Secretary serves as the Chair of the Committee on Education and Training (CET), one of the nine committees of the National Science and Technology Council.

D.C. Public Schools Initiative

The Department's DC Public Schools (DCPS) Initiative was created to help the District's public school system improve the quality of education through system-wide and school-based academic and management reforms. The Department currently provides funding, resources, and guidance in such areas as curriculum and instruction, parental and community involvement, assessment and accountability, school governance, and adult education. The DC Public Schools Initiative facilitates continual reform efforts within the District's public school system.

Negotiated Rulemaking for Higher Education

Schedules, participants, meeting summaries, and other information about the negotiated rulemaking process under Title IV of the Higher Education Act is available. Under this process, the Department and representatives of the higher education community develop proposed regulations for student financial aid programs.

Student Aid Regulatory Review

The Department of Education is reviewing its regulations relating to the federal student financial aid programs, as required by Section 498(B) of the Higher Education Act. We are soliciting the views of our customers and partners — including students, schools, and financial institutions — to help us in this process. We will then synthesize the information we collect, as well as our own analysis of our regulations, and present it in a report to Congress.

Principal in Residence

Carole Kennedy is the Department's current Principal in Residence, a two-year appointment in the Office of the Deputy Secretary. The appointee provides a principal's perspective on key policy issues being addressed at the Department. In addition, the Principal in Residence serves as an important link between principals from across the country and the Department

Best Practices Online

The Knowledge Loom: What Works in Teaching and Learning

Archive of Speeches by Former Deputy Secretaries

Former Deputy Secretary Kunin's Speeches

Selected Speeches by Former Acting Deputy Secretary, Mike Smith

Last updated April 3, 2003 (jer)