Education Report January 15, 2010

1. Budget and Appropriations
-Members of the House of Representatives returned to Washington this week, the Senate will not be back until January 20.
-President Obama has urged the Congress to pass the Healthcare legislation before he makes his State of the Union Address later this month or in early February.
-The State of the Union will be of great interest to Education Advocates, as the President will signal his domestic priorities for 2010. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is conveying his sense of urgency about reauthorizing the ESEA act this year, and it will be interesting to see if the White house shares his commitment.
-Troublesome speculation remains around the FY 2011 budget for education. It is believed it will reflect more new Adminisration priorities versus existing law.

2. AFT President outlines Comprehensive Education Reform Plan
-At a Thursday National Press Club event, AFT President delivered a speech titled, " A New Path Forward: Four Approaches to Quality Teaching and Better Schools," which outlined the AFT's comprehensive education reform plan for the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Act (ESEA).
-In her speech Randi Weingarten proposed four initiatives that she argued would pave the way for progress in schools. With regard to teacher development and evaluation systems ,she noted that our current systems are inadequate and advocated for comprehensive and robust evaluations.

For additional information, visit http://www.aft.org/newspubs/news/2010/011210a.cfm [1]

3. AEE Releases Report on Dropout Rate
-On January 15, the Alliance for Excellent Education released a report titled, "The Economic Benefits from halving the Dropout Rate: A Boom to Business in the National's Largest Metropolitan Areas."
-With funding from State Farm Insurance, the Alliance developed an economic model that measures the positive benefits the 50 largest cities in the US stand to earn if dropout rates were reduced by 50%. Alliance President Governor Bob Wise believes reducing dropout rates is the best economic stimulus possible.

For a complete copy of the report, visit www.all4ed.org [2]

4. In Brief
-House Science and Tech Committee begins competes Reauthorization
-Nations earns "C" on Annual Education Report Card
-AEI holds Conference on How School Districts can Save Money
-AASA holds News Conference on Transforming Schools

Be sure to also check out sections #5 (New Publications) and #6 (In the News) for articles of interest.