CHEERLEADERS FOR DETROIT: U.S. GOVERNMENT LEADERS PAY A VISIT

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 
Pulling Together on Detroit's Road to Recover

Residents of the Detroit area hit hard by the loss of manufacturing jobs during the 2007-2009 recession know adversity. But they also know that American innovation and a willingness to pull together are a powerful one-two punch in getting Detroit back on its feet. That was the message Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan brought to the city on Dec. 12 for a series of events focused on efforts to cultivate and integrate federal, state, city, philanthropic and private-sector support to restore Detroit's economic greatness. The two Cabinet officials visited Macomb Community College in Warren, Mich., which was recently selected to lead a nearly $25 million Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College Career Training grant. The grant will help Macomb and seven other Michigan schools enhance and expand their training programs through the launch of the Michigan Coalition for Advanced Manufacturing. The secretaries also traveled to the Northwest Activities Center in Detroit for the kickoff of the Hire Detroit! campaign. Organized by the Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation and MichiganWorks, the event brought together workforce professionals, employers, and local, state and federal leaders to raise awareness of Detroit's workforce needs and encourage employers to hire. One employer — Detroit Manufacturing Systems — has relied heavily on the resources of the local workforce system to hire their 750 employees since 2012. Perez visited DMS later in the day to talk to employees involved in making parts for Ford vehicles.

STATEMENT FROM EDUCATION SECRETARY DUNCAN ON TITLE VI ANNIVERSARY

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Statement by Secretary Arne Duncan on the Anniversary of Title VI

July 2, 2013

Today, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan released the following statement regarding the anniversary of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964:


"The 49th anniversary of the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of education in America's progress toward racial equality.

"Title VI has prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in any program or activity - including all elementary and secondary schools and colleges and universities, public or private - receiving Federal financial assistance.

"The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights has used Title VI to promote equal access to college- and career-preparatory courses and programs and to combat school segregation, discriminatory discipline, harassment, and other barriers to equal education for students of different racial, ethnic and linguistic backgrounds.

"We still have a long way to go to achieve racial equity. Last week, in the Fisher case, the Supreme Court preserved 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 pursue that interest in their admissions programs. Lack of access to college- and career preparatory school programs persist, and racial disparities in discipline deny equal opportunity to too many of our students of color. Many of our nation's schools are still racially isolated, and racial gaps continue to exist in important measurements of learning.

"Today, we at the Department of Education recommit ourselves to enforcing Title VI to help end illegal discrimination in our country's schools and promote equitable opportunities for all students. We salute the states, districts, communities and advocates across America that have worked tirelessly to ensure that racial discrimination is eliminated as a barrier to student learning and success."

GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES $475 MILLION FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE/EMPLOYER TRAINING PARTNERSHIPS

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
U.S. Departments of Education and Labor Announce Availability of $474.5 Million to Strengthen Training Partnerships Between Community Colleges and Employers

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Education, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor, today announced the availability of $474.5 million to create and expand innovative partnerships between community colleges and businesses to educate and train workers with the skills employers need. This is the third round of funding since 2009 under the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grant program, for a total of nearly $1.5 billion.

"Equipping our nation's students with the skills they need is one of the best investments we can make to keep our economy growing," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "This third round of funding will build on the work of earlier grantees by strengthening partnerships between institutions and employers so students develop the skills and attain the credentials they need for jobs in high-need fields now and in the future."

Acting Secretary of Labor Seth Harris announced the new funding today at an event with Under Secretary of Education Martha Kanter at Contra Costa College training facility in Richmond, Calif. The college is part of the "Design-It Build-It Ship-It" consortium of 10 community colleges in San Francisco's East Bay area that was awarded $15 million in the second round of TAACCCT grants to support regional partnerships, build career pathways, and enhance industry engagement in the advanced manufacturing, logistics, and engineering industries.

"Building a well-educated workforce is critical to achieve President Obama's mission to grow the economy from the middle class out," said Acting Secretary Harris. "This new round of funding will expand our capacity to provide world-class job skills to thousands of workers around the country in occupations we know are growing now and will continue to grow in the future."

Contra Costa Community College received $600,000 as part of the consortia grant to serve as the regional lead for Advanced Automotive Technologies and to develop new degree programs and accelerated certificates in partnership with Richmond Workforce Investment Board and the San Pablo Economic Development Corporation.

Administered by the Department of Labor in close collaboration with the Department of Education, the TAACCCT program is one component of President Obama's plan to help every American have at least one year of post-secondary education and for America to have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020.

This latest round of funding will invest in innovative and evidence-based training models that include strong partnerships with local employers and employer organizations, including sector-based strategies. Strong partnerships and work-based training will help ensure that curricula and training are aligned with the practical skills and competencies industries seek from workers.

Funds will also encourage community colleges to better track data on the employment and earnings of students after they graduate as a tool to improve their programming and to create employment results scorecards that will help prospective students choose between training programs.

Finally, models funded this year will use advanced online and technology-based job training tools. Course materials developed with this funding will be available publicly through the Open Educational Resources initiative to users to modify, update and build on instructional content. Additionally, all grantees will be required to evaluate their programs to build knowledge on what strategies are most effective in helping students gain skills and succeed in the workplace.

SECRETARY OF EDUCATION ARNE DUNCAN STATEMENT ON CONNECTICUT SCHOOL SHOOTINGS

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Statement from U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on the Newtown, Connecticut, School Shootings

December 14, 2012"School shootings are always incomprehensible and horrific tragedies. But words fail to describe today's heartbreaking and savage attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School. As the father of two children in elementary school, I can barely imagine the anguish and losses suffered today by the Newtown community.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to every parent, child, teacher, staff member, and administrator at Sandy Hook and the surrounding community. And our thanks go out to every teacher, staff member, and first responder who cared for, comforted, and protected children from harm, often at risk to themselves. We will do everything in our power to assist and support the healing and recovery of Newtown."

SECRETARY OF EDUCATION DUNCAN'S SURPRISE SCHOOL VISIT

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Secretary Duncan Makes Surprise Visit to Luke C. Moore High School in Honor of Teacher Appreciation Week
50 ED Staff to Participate in “ED Goes Back to School”
MAY 9, 2012
Editor's note: A school in your area is noted in the following release as part of Teacher Appreciation Week events organized by the U.S. Department of Education.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan surprised teachers and staff of D.C.’s Luke C. Moore High School with an unexpected visit this morning during their Teacher Appreciation Week breakfast celebration.

Principal Azalia H. Speight, Assistant Principal Carlos Perkins, and Assistant Principal Rinaldo Murray gathered dozens of teachers and school support staff for the morning event to recognize their everyday hard work.

“I was honored to join Principal Speight in thanking Luke C. Moore staff for their commitment to education,” said Duncan. “The entire staff demonstrate a shared responsibility for helping children feel supported and have made significant accomplishments that improve students' chances of being successful in school and beyond. Their hard work is inspiring.”

Luke C. Moore High School is a local School Improvement Grant recipient that serves over 300 students, ages 17 to 21, who have dropped out or who have had difficulties in traditional school settings. Nearly 80 percent of the students served qualify for free or reduced price lunch.

As part of its school turnaround effort, Luke C. Moore has adopted an accelerated academic program with a focus on building critical thinking skills and project-based learning. Staff also support students through intervention teams that provide services both inside and outside of school. Support staff have conducted over 300 home visits in addition to holding several community gatherings to reinforce the value of education with students and parents. Since putting into place intervention efforts, Principal Speight has led the school toward significant improvements. Students have shown proficiency gains in both English Language Arts and Mathematics. Graduation and student attendance rates have increased while disciplinary referrals and suspensions have dropped.

The Wednesday morning stop-by marks Duncan’s second visit to Luke C. Moore. In November 2009, Duncan held a discussion at the school as part of a series of listening and learning events to gather input on education reform and the reauthorization of ESEA. More recently, Luke C. Moore teacher Rose Smith and senior Daquan Burley joined Duncan on a panel during America’s Promise Alliance 2012 “Building a Grad Nation” Summit.

In addition to Duncan’s surprise visit, dozens of Education Department staff are visiting schools today throughout the D.C. area and across the country as part of “ED Goes Back to School,” an organized effort of federal staff shadowing teachers. The shadowing visits will offer Department officials an inside look at teachers’ day-to-day work while also giving teachers the opportunity to discuss how federal policy, programs, and resources play a role in their classrooms. On Wednesday evening, teachers and Department staff participating in “ED Goes Back to School” will join Duncan for a debrief discussion to reflect on the experience.
From Wednesday through Friday, shadowing visits will take place in nearly 50 schools across 11 states and D.C. A list of participating schools follows.
Anacostia Senior High School in Washington, D.C.
Ballou Senior High School in Washington, D.C.
Benjamin Banneker Academic High School in Washington, D.C.
Brightwood Elementary School in Washington, D.C.
Brookwood Elementary School in Leawood, Kan.
Capital City Public Charter School in Washington, D.C.
Center City PCS - Trinidad in Washington, D.C.
Charles Hart Middle School in Washington, D.C.
Chester Community Charter School in Chester, Pa.
Collegiate Academy Charter School in Littleton, Colo.
Curley K-8 School in Jamaica Plain, Mass.
DC Bilingual Charter School in Washington, D.C.
DC Scholars Stanton Elementary in Washington, D.C.
DePriest Elementary School in Chicago, Ill.
Drew Model School in Arlington, Va.
Everett Middle School in San Francisco, Cailf.
Glebe Elementary School in Arlington. Va.
Hearst Elementary in Washington, D.C.
Howard University Public Charter Middle School of Mathematics and Science in Washington, D.C.
Jackson Elementary School in Clayton County, Ga.
Kendall Demonstration Elementary School in Washington, D.C.
Kent Meredian Middle School in Kent, Wash.
Key Peninsula Middle School in Lakebay, Wash.
KIPP DC: Discover Academy in Washington, D.C.
KIPP DC: Key Academy in Washington, D.C.
Maya Angelou Public Charter School in Washington, D.C.
McKinley Elementary School in Arlington, Va.
McKinley Technology High School in Washington, D.C.
Model Secondary School for the Deaf in Washington, D.C.
Monticello Middle School in Shawnee, Kan.