Press Releases

Statement from U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on the Newtown, Connecticut, School Shootings

"School shootings are always incomprehensible and horrific tragedies. But words fail to describe today's heartbreaking and savage attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School. As the father of two children in elementary school, I can barely imagine the anguish and losses suffered today by the Newtown community.

Education Department Announces 16 Winners of Race to the Top-District Competition

Note To Editors: White House Domestic Policy Council Director Cecilia Muñoz and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will host a press call at 3:30 p.m. ET today, Tuesday, Dec. 11, to discuss this announcement. Members of the press who wish to join the call may dial 888-989-9713 and give the passcode: "District."

The U.S.

Statement by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on the Release of the 2011 TIMSS and PIRLS Assessments

“These 2011 international assessments provide both encouraging news about our students’ progress and some sobering cautionary notes.

“The encouraging news is that U.S. fourth grade students have made significant progress in reading and mathematics in the last five years, and our fourth graders now rank among the world’s leaders in reading literacy.

Five More States Secure Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge Grants

Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, Oregon, and Wisconsin will each receive a share of the 2012 Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge $133 million grant fund to improve quality and expand access to early learning programs throughout their states. The five winners join nine existing state grantees who secured first-round funding last year.

Secretary's Statement Commending the AFT Teacher Preparation Task Force's "Raising the Bar" Report

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today released the following statement on the American Federation of Teachers Teacher Preparation Task Force's "Raising the Bar" report.

U.S Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights Releases Four-Year Report on Civil Rights Enforcement and Educational Equity

Today, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released a report describing OCR's progress and activity over the last four years on civil rights enforcement and educational equity.

U.S. Department of Education Announces 61 Applications as Finalists for $400 Million Race to the Top - District Competition

Today, the U.S. Department of Education announced that 61 applications have been selected as finalists for the Race to the Top-District (RTTT-D) competition.

States Report New High School Graduation Rates Using More Accurate, Common Measure

The U.S. Department of Education released data today detailing state four-year high school graduation rates in 2010-11 – the first year for which all states used a common, rigorous measure.

U.S. Department of Education Releases Early Snapshot of School Improvement Grants Data

The U.S. Department of Education today released an early snapshot of student performance data at schools that have received federal School Improvement Grants (SIG) program funds, a key component of the Department’s blueprint for helping states and districts turn around the nation’s lowest-performing schools.

Nearly $1 Million Now Available to Support Partnerships Offering Education and Workforce Training for Incarcerated Individuals Exiting Prisons

The U.S.