Press Releases

U.S. Department of Education Awards Nearly $50,000 to Help Colorado's Aurora Public Schools Recover from Theater Shooting

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Healthy Students, formerly the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, has awarded Aurora Public Schools in Aurora, Colo., a Project School Emergency Response to Violence (SERV) grant totaling nearly $50,000.

Hundreds of School Districts Apply for $400 Million Race to the Top-District Competition

Today the U.S. Department of Education announced it received 371 applications – representing more than 1,100 school districts – for the Race to the Top-District competition.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Celebrates 314 Schools as 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today will honor 314 schools as 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools at an awards luncheon at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. The award honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or for their progress toward significantly improving student academic achievement levels.

Education Department Announces Highest-Rated Applications for Investing in Innovation 2012 Competition

The U.S. Department of Education today announced results for the third round of the Investing in Innovation (i3) competition, which will award the 20 highest-rated applications more than $140 million to expand innovative practices designed to improve student achievement. These 20 potential grantees, selected from 727 applications, must secure matching funds by Dec.

Education Secretary Urges Colleges to Adjust Application Deadlines for Students Impacted by Hurricane Sandy

Today, Education Secretary Arne Duncan encouraged colleges, universities and scholarship programs across the country to consider extending their early November application deadlines to accommodate students who were impacted by Hurricane Sandy and who may be experiencing unexpected hardships.

UPDATE: Race to the Top-District Application Deadline Extended

Update:

For districts in states affected by Hurricane Sandy and for which the President has issued a major disaster declaration or an emergency declaration, the new Race to the Top-District deadline is 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012.

All Eligible States Apply for Second Round of Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge

Today the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that all five eligible states—Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, Oregon, and Wisconsin—have submitted applications for the second round of Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge.

Statement by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on the Afterschool Alliance's Lights on Afterschool Celebration

U.S. Secretary of Education today issued the following statement on the Afterschool Alliance's nationwide Lights on Afterschool celebration.

Obama Administration Approves Idaho’s Request for NCLB Flexibility

The Obama Administration today approved Idaho’s request for flexibility from No Child Left Behind (NCLB) in exchange for state-developed plans to prepare all students for college and career, focus aid on the neediest students, and support effective teaching and leadership.

31 Organizations Honored at Together for Tomorrow Challenge Event

Today, the U.S. Department of Education and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) recognized 24 organizations from across the nation as Together for Tomorrow (TFT) Challenge winners for the 2012-2013 school year. Together for Tomorrow is a joint initiative of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships together with the U.S.