DFER's Blog
Senate Judiciary Committee Unanimously Supports America’s Students
May 14, 2013
Senate Judiciary Committee Unanimously Supports America’s Students
Passes STEM Education Amendment to Immigration Bill
Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) commends the leadership of Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) in passing an amendment today in the Senate Judiciary Committee to the pending immigration package which would improve STEM education for American students.
We owe it to American students—especially those from underserved communities—to do whatever we can to help them seize opportunities in science and engineering professions. This amendment takes a serious step towards fulfilling this obligation to our children.
Common Core: A Truly Shared Vision
May 14, 2013
By Harrison Blackmond, DFER MI State Director
In an unprecedented display of unity, business leaders, educators, and advocates have come together today to support the implementation of Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in Michigan. The standards, which will ensure Michigan’s children are prepared to compete in a global economy, are set to go into effect at the start of the 2014-15 school year.
Despite bi-partisan support for the CCSS in our state, a radical group of CCSS opponents have been operating behind the scenes and using inflammatory rhetoric in an effort to halt implementation.
Democrats for Education Reform Endorses Polis-Udall-Bennet “Growth to Excellence Act”
May 14, 2013
College and Career Readiness, Closing Achievement Gaps Would Be Key Priorities of Elementary and Secondary Education Act
Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) and Senators Mark Udall (D-CO) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced the “Growth to Excellence Act” today in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, respectively. The bill would make critical improvements to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) by pushing states to set ambitious, but attainable goals to raise student achievement and close achievement gaps. Any bill worthy of support from education advocates must have these essential components.
The Growth to Excellence Act represents a strong step towards fulfilling aspirations to provide each student in America with an excellent education by bringing growth in student learning to the forefront.
Income-Based Student Loan Repayments
May 14, 2013
(Download the PDF for a closer view here.)
Created by DFER's Director of Teacher Policy, Omar Lopez
From DFER's Blog Series: Infographic Tuesdays
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Excellence for all, or just some?
May 8, 2013
By Lisa Macfarlane
A growing contingent of people in Washington state are frustrated by the loud arguments surrounding education that end up being about everything but what really matters—kids.
While the legislature can’t see eye to eye on a budget that would fully fund education because they disagree over whose tax breaks to take away, and the Washington Education Association (WEA) is busy attacking State Senators that don’t toe their line, community members and educators are seeing the vast disparities in school quality across the state and are crying foul.
Washingtonians are weary of the unproductive dialogue surrounding education reform.
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