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American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Investing in Innovation, Securing America's Future - Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Time: 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM ET
“It’s time to give all Americans a complete and competitive education from the cradle up through a career… America’s entire education system must once more be the envy of the world,"
-- President Barack Obama
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart our economy, create or save hundreds of thousands of jobs, and put a down payment—more than $100 billion over two years for education alone—on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century. With the recent passage of the Recovery Act, the president and Congress have taken bold steps to both protect our children’s future and lay the foundation for a generation of school reform. The Act provides swift aid to states that they can use to avoid teacher layoffs and other education program cuts, modernize school buildings, and provide programs that protect the needs of every student. The stimulus will save jobs—but the larger goal is to drive reforms that will transform public education in America.
President Obama recently called on Americans to stop fighting with each other about education and start fighting for our kids. The new funding will provide unprecedented resources toward major education reforms and it is imperative to do all we can—as parents, teachers, principals, administrators, and national leaders—to help restore America's global leadership in education. Importantly, the Recovery Act will lay the foundation for a generation of education reform by encouraging states:
- To adopt internationally benchmarked standards and assessments that ensure that high school graduates are prepared for college or a career;
- To build high-quality data systems that track a student's academic career, making it possible to tell which teachers, programs and schools are effective;
- To turn around failing schools and embrace innovative new learning models; and,
- To invest heavily in teacher and principal quality initiatives that both elevate the teaching profession and help recruit and retain great teachers and principals for underserved schools and communities.
And, to offer incentive to the most innovative states and school districts that are moving forward with bold education programs to improve student achievement, a $5 billion fund has been established under the law for the Department of Education that includes a $4.35 billion "Race to the Top" fund and $650 million to assist school districts and non-profit organizations with strong track records of improving student achievement. The April edition of Education News will feature a taped interview with Secretary Duncan, plus live discussion with state and local education administrators and policymakers. The program will spotlight the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and its promise for generating urgently needed reform in schools across the country. April’s guests will discuss the following topics:
- What are the key educational components of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act?
- How will the Act spur innovation and reform and make us more competitive in the global economy?
- How will the Act avert teacher and administrator layoffs and generate jobs across the nation?
- How will the Act help more students afford, attend and ultimately succeed in college?
- Where can parents and educators find out more about the Act and monitor how the funds are being spent on the federal, state and local level?
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