Press Releases

Obama Administration Opens Together for Tomorrow School Improvement Challenge

Together for Tomorrow (TFT), the joint initiative of the U.S. Department of Education, White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to spur community engagement in turning around our nation’s lowest performing schools, today launched its School Improvement Challenge for the 2012-13 school year on http://TFT.challenge.gov.

Statement from U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on Pat Summitt Stepping Down as Tennessee Coach

"I am saddened to see that Pat Summitt is stepping down as the basketball coach at the University of Tennessee because she has set the gold standard for coaches everywhere. Her accomplishments as a basketball coach at the University of Tennessee may never be matched. She has won more games than any college basketball coach in history and coached the U.S. women's basketball to a gold medal.

USDA and Education Host White House Rural Council Meeting, Sign Interagency Agreement to Promote Career Pathways and Postsecondary Education

The U.S. Departments of Education and Agriculture have teamed up to enhance agricultural education and related programs that promote postsecondary and career pathways, including teaching, according to an interagency agreement to advance agricultural education. U.S. Education and Agriculture Secretaries Arne Duncan and Tom Vilsack announced the agreement today during a White House Rural Council meeting with local educators at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

Departments of Justice and Education Reach Agreement with the University of California, San Diego to Resolve Harassment Allegations

WASHINGTON – The Departments of Justice and Education reached a settlement agreement with the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), to resolve an investigation into complaints of racial harassment against African-American students on campus. Titles IV and VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 each prohibit harassment based on race.

Education Department Releases Action Plan To Improve Measures of Postsecondary Success

To provide more complete information on student persistence and completion, the Education Department released an action plan today that takes steps to augment its current measures of student success in postsecondary education.

Philanthropic Leaders Pledge $1 Million as Initial Investment in Public Private Partnerships for AAPI Community

WASHINGTON – With newly released figures from the U.S. Census Bureau indicating that the Asian American population experienced a 43 percent increase and that of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders experienced a 30 percent increase from 2000 to 2010, on April 2, 2012, the nation’s top foundations pledged an initial $1 million and the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders convened its first National Philanthropic Briefing to draw attention to this fastest growing racial group in the country.

The 2012 Race to the Top Fund Continues Investments in Statewide Systems of High Quality Early Education Programs

The U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced today that $133 million from the 2012 Race to the Top fund will be available for continued investments in state-level, comprehensive early education reform.

U.S. Department of Education Awards Joplin Schools Nearly $50,000 to Support Local Recovery Efforts

The U.S. Department of Education awarded Joplin Schools a $49,780 Project SERV grant to help provide local students and education staff with academic and mental health services following the Category 5 tornado that struck the Joplin community on May 22, 2011.

Statement by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today issued the following statement on the shootings Monday at Oikos University in Oakland, Calif.

I was saddened to learn of the senseless violence and loss of life at Oikos University in Oakland. My thoughts are with the community and families of the victims.”

Nine States Receive Funding to Turn Around Persistently Lowest Achieving Schools

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