Education Report January 8, 2010

1. Budget and Appropriations
-On Christmas Eve morning, Members of the Senate passed a Healthcare reform package by a slim margin and left the Nation's Capitol for a holiday recess that extends until mid-January. However, it was not quiet in Washington as planning on how to come to a consensus on a final healthcare package went into high gear on December 26th and have taken place non-stop ever since.
-The State of the Union address will be very important as the it marks the launching of a new budget and appropriation season; provides the President an opportunity to summarize accomplishments to date; and gives him the chance to present his policy goals for the upcoming year.
-Education will be a topic the President outlines in his domestic agenda. He has made it clear he has big plans for the No Child Left Behind Act. It has been rumored that Department of Education staff have drafted a bill that will be sent to Capitol Hill later this week. Clearly, moving forward on the education reform front is a high priority for the Administration.

2. President Obama Honors Teachers during "Educate to Innovate" Event
-In late november of 2009, President Obama launched the "Educate to Innovate" campaign, a nationwide effort to help move American students from the middle to the top of the pack in science and math achievement over the next decade.
-The announcement included a number of public-private partnerships that invest millions of dollars into various efforts to prepare more STEM teachers. Many have rallied behind this call, and are supporting this effort.

For more information on this week's announcement, visit: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-expands-educa... [1].

3. In Brief
-NCATE Panel to Research Clinically based Preparation of Teachers
-FEA shares Goals for ESEA Reauthorization

Be sure to also check out section #4 (In the News) for articles of interest.