Politics. On Point.

On Monday afternoon, Dr. Jill Biden, an educator for more than 30 years, hosted a reception honoring the 2013 National Teacher of the Year and State Teachers of the Year at the Vice President’s Residence.  This is the fifth year in a row that Dr. Biden will host this group of accomplished teachers. Today, at the White House, President Obama paid homage in the Rose Garden of the White House. President Obama with 2013 Teacher of the Year finalists. Photo/CD Brown. State finalist I'Asha Warfield has been a teacher for 13 years.   Ms. Warfield teaches 7 th grade at Oakland, CA’s Unified School District and paid homage to her colleagues in her district back home.  “We are grounded by 53 incredible teachers", Warfield boasted. That’s something that most people may not recognize. “You mostly hear negative things about the town that I love", said Warfield. "For a teacher from Oakland to get this award just proves there is great teaching hap...

President Obama will visit three key 'battle ground' states this week to talk student loan rate increase. On Tuesday, April 24, President Obama will visit the University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder, CO to deliver remarks as part of a concerted effort to get Congress to prevent interest rates on student loans from doubling this July. Student loan rates are set to increase from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent for millions of college students. "At a time when going to college has never been more important, it has also, unfortunately, never been more expensive", said Secretary of Education Arne Duncan last week in a White House briefing. Adding, "Families and students are struggling to meet these costs, and there's no reason why we should add to their burden.  And I have to tell you, as I’ve traveled throughout the country ... not just in disadvantaged communities, but more and more middle-class families are starting to think college might not be for th...

Awards To Help Build Statewide Systems of High Quality Early Education Programs The White House announced that nine states - California, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and Washington - will receive grant awards from the $500 million Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge fund, a competitive grant program jointly administered by the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services.  President Obama asked Congress in his budget to authorize and make permanent an Early Learning Challenge Fund in previous years. Unfortunately, Congress did not act on that proposal, so the Administration took action to ensure this program was funded this year through Race to the Top, because our kids only get one shot at a top-notch education and they cannot afford to wait. “Education must be our national mission,” said President Barack Obama. “All of us must work to give all our children the best education possible.  And today, we...

The Departments of Justice and Education released two new guidance documents – one for school districts and one for colleges and universities – detailing the flexibility that the Supreme Court has provided to educational institutions to promote diversity and, in the case of elementary and secondary schools, reduce racial isolation among students within the confines of the law.   The guidance makes clear that educators may permissibly consider the race of students in carefully constructed plans to promote diversity or, in K-12 education, to reduce racial isolation.  It recognizes the learning benefits to students when campuses and schools include students of diverse backgrounds. “Diverse learning environments promote development of analytical skills, dismantle stereotypes, and prepare students to succeed in an increasingly interconnected world,” said Attorney General Eric Holder.  “The guidance announced today will aid educational institutions in their efforts to p...