SECRETARY OF EDUCATION DUNCAN CELEBRATES NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS

FROM:  U.S. EDUCATION DEPARTMENT 
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Celebrates 286 Schools as 2013 National Blue Ribbon Schools

Seven principals honored with Terrel H. Bell Awards for outstanding leadership
NOVEMBER 19, 2013

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today honors 286 schools as the 2013 National Blue Ribbon Schools at an awards luncheon at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. The award honors public and private schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in improving student academic achievement. The schools – 236 public and 50 private—are among nearly 7,500 schools that have received the coveted award over the past 31 years.

"Excellence in education matters and we should honor the schools that are leading the way to prepare students for success in college and careers," said Secretary Duncan. "National Blue Ribbon schools represent examples of educational excellence, and their work reflects the belief that every child in America deserves a world-class education."

The National Blue Ribbon Schools award honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students perform at very high levels or where significant improvements are being made in students’ levels of achievement.

The program recognizes schools in one of two performance categories. The first category is “Exemplary High Performing,” in which schools are recognized among their state’s highest performing schools, as measured by state assessments or nationally-normed tests. The second category is “Exemplary Improving,” in which schools that have at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds demonstrate the most progress in improving student achievement levels as measured by state assessments or nationally-normed tests.

Additionally, seven principals from the 2013 cohort of National Blue Ribbon Schools will be recognized with the Terrel H. Bell Award for their outstanding work and the vital role they play in guiding their students and schools to excellence, frequently under challenging circumstances. Named for the second secretary of education, Terrel H. Bell, the award recognizes school leaders committed to fostering successful teaching and learning at their schools, school leaders committed to education as a powerful and liberating force in people’s lives and who do “whatever it takes” to help their students meet high standards.

The Terrel H. Bell Awards will be presented to the following principals by the U.S. Department of Education, together with the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the Association for Middle Level Education and the National Association of Secondary School Principals:

Hattie Alexander, W.H. Council Traditional School, Mobile, Ala.
Jennifer Nauman, Richard A. Shields Elementary School, Lewes, Del.
Jared Jenks, Sugar-Salem High School, Sugar-Salem, Idaho.
Kevin Suther, Chapman High School, Chapman, Kan.
Sheila Harrity, Worchester Technical High School, Worchester, Mass.
Kathleen Decker, Walter Bracken STEAM Academy, Las Vegas, Nev.
Vicki Harmdierks, Gertie Bell Rogers Elementary School, Mitchell, S.D.
The Bell Award is part of the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Principals are nominated by their school communities during the final stages of the National Blue Ribbon Schools application process.

In addition, the Department would like give a special thanks to The History Channel and Discovery Education for their continued support of the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program.

SECRETARY OF EDUCATION DUNCAN ISSUES STATEMENT ON VETERANS DAY

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 
Statement by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on Veterans Day
NOVEMBER 8, 2013

"Our country's Veterans have helped build the United States into the world leader it is today. Since the birth of our nation, they have protected us time and time again. From the rural hills in Kentucky to the towering buildings in Manhattan, our Veterans are from every corner of the country representing the best of what it is to be American.

"Thanks to the GI Bill, America's Veterans have helped develop our education system and build the middle class. One million Veterans, servicemembers, and family members have benefited from the Post-9/11 GI Bill since the program's inception in August 2009, demonstrating the importance of helping Veterans reach their educational goals. While many have left the Armed Forces, they continue to serve their country in new ways as teachers, coaches or mentors for our children. As they have served us, we should continue to serve them by ensuring they have access to a high quality education system and affordable college programs. Veterans Day is a day of remembrance and reflection to honor those that have served."

SECRETARY OF EDUCATION DUNCAN'S STATEMENT ON HOUSE ESEA REAUTHORIZATION BILL H.R. 5

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 
Statement from U.S. Secretary of Education Secretary Duncan on House ESEA Reauthorization Bill H.R. 5

JULY 19, 2013

"America's families, students and teachers deserve an education law that advances progress for all students—especially our most vulnerable children. The bill that the House passed today is not that law. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act, better known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB), is 6 years overdue for Congressional reauthorization, and has changed from an instrument of reform to a barrier. I have met and spoken many times with Congressional leaders to try to create a new version of law that would fix NCLB's most burdensome and broken elements. But, in the absence of a workable new law, we have worked together with 39 states and the District of Columbia, and are working with other states, to provide them with flexibility from the one-size-fits-all mandates of NCLB – a process that has unleashed pent-up energy for productive, state and locally designed reforms. I continue to support a strong, bipartisan reauthorization that helps to prepare students for a globally competitive economy. That reauthorization would continue the significant progress states are making in establishing standards that prepare students for college and careers, developing systems to support excellent teaching and leadership in our schools, and creating fairer, flexible, and focused accountability for the learning of all students, including low-income and minority students, students with disabilities, and English language learners.

"The bill passed by the House today does none of those things. It marks a retreat from high standards for all students and would virtually eliminate accountability for the learning of historically underserved students – a huge step backward for efforts to improve academic achievement. It would lock in major cuts to education funding at a time when continued investments in education are the only way we can remain competitive on the world stage. For all of these reasons, I and other senior advisors to the President would recommend that he veto H.R. 5 if it were presented to him."

EDUCATION SECRETARY DUNCAN ISSUES STATEMENT ON EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS VOTE IN SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 
Secretary Duncan Issues Statement in Response to Senate Subcommittee Vote to Invest in Early Learning Programs
JULY 9, 2013

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today issued the following statement in response to the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee voting to invest in early learning programs.

“I thank Chairman Harkin and the Subcommittee for producing a bill that makes strong investments in education, including early learning programs. With today’s action, the Subcommittee has taken the first steps to recognize the important need for investing in high-quality preschool programs. Providing families with this tremendous opportunity for kids to excel will be critical to our national success for decades to come. The $750 million requested by the President and provided by the Subcommittee is a healthy contribution to help states develop and strengthen their early learning programs. I hope Congress will continue to listen to business leaders, military officials, members of the faith community, educators and America’s families, who are all in agreement about the importance of giving our children a strong start.”

SECRETARY OF EDUCATION DUNCAN MAKE'S STATEMENT ON SENATE PASSAGE OF IMMIGRATION REFORM

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Statement by Secretary Duncan on Senate Passage of Immigration Reform

　

June 28, 2013 　


U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan issued the following statement today in reaction to the Senate's vote on immigration reform yesterday:

"Since our early days as a nation, immigration has helped spur innovation and strengthen our economy. It will continue to do so in the 21st century. The vote in the Senate is a great step toward reforming the nation's broken immigration system and providing a pathway for DREAMers and their families. It is encouraging to see our country's political leadership set aside partisanship and come together to do what's in the best interest of the country.

"If we are going to meet President Obama's goal of leading the world in college graduates by 2020, we must support the education and growth of every student. We must also ensure that America remains a beacon for the most promising minds, by making it easier for foreign graduate students in science and math to stay in this country, rather than taking their skills elsewhere. Our country's best and brightest include students and families of every culture and creed, who deserve a fair shot at success whether they were born in the United States or chosen it as their home."

SECRETARY OF EDUCATION DUNCAN'S STATEMENT ON SUPREME COURT'S DIVERSITY RULING

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Statement by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on the Supreme Court’s Ruling on Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin

June 24, 2013

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan issued the following statement today in reaction to the Supreme Court’s ruling on Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin:


"I am pleased that the Supreme Court ruling in the Fisher case today preserves the well-established legal principle that colleges and universities have a compelling interest in achieving the educational benefits that flow from a racially and ethnically diverse student body, and can lawfully pursue that interest in their admissions programs. As the Court has repeatedly recognized, a diverse student enrollment promotes cross-racial understanding and dialogue, reduces racial isolation, and helps to break down stereotypes. This is critical for the future of our country because racially diverse educational environments help to prepare students to succeed in an increasingly diverse workforce and society.

"The Department continues to be a strong supporter of diversity, and will continue to be a resource to any college or university that seeks assistance in pursuing diversity in a lawful manner."