May 16 These 44 colleges will accept Pell grants from high schoolers who want college credit By Jennifer C. Kerr, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Thousands of low-income students in nearly two dozen states will soon be able to get federal grants to take college courses while still in high school, part of a program the Obama administration plans to begin this summer. Continue reading
Apr 28 Education Department launches new website for student loan borrowers By Kevin Freking, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Department of Education has launched a new website to help people with student loans find a repayment option that best suits their needs. Continue reading
Mar 14 Senate votes to confirm King to head Education Department By Jennifer C. Kerr, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Senate has narrowly voted to confirm John B. King Jr. as the nation's education secretary. Continue reading
Mar 14 U.S. to fire monitor overseeing turnaround strategies of for-profit colleges By Jeff Horwitz, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Education Department is removing a law firm hired to oversee the turnaround of schools owned by Corinthian Colleges Inc., a for-profit education company whose financial collapse had placed at risk more than $1 billion in federal student… Continue reading
Feb 22 The fight over transgender rights in school restrooms intensifies By Lisa Leff, Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO — In clashes over which restrooms and locker rooms transgender students should use, the U.S. Department of Education has warned public schools that a 1970s sex discrimination law makes it illegal to deny them access to the facilities… Continue reading
Dec 15 U.S. high school graduation rate ticks up to 82 percent By Jennifer C. Kerr, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Education Department said Tuesday that the rate for the 2013-14 school year -- up from 81 percent the previous year -- was the highest since it started using a new, uniform measure in 2010. Still, the numbers… Continue reading
Oct 02 Education Secretary Arne Duncan to step down in December By Josh Lederman and Kathleen Hennessey, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Education Secretary Arne Duncan is stepping down in December after 7 years in the Obama administration. Continue reading
Aug 10 Amid pressure, New York releases half of Common Core test questions By Carey Reed In response to requests by educators and parent-teacher associations, the New York State Department of Education released 50 percent of the Common Core-based English Language Arts and Math test questions for exams taken by students in the third through eighth… Continue reading
Mar 06 Watch Report: Minority Students Face Harsher Discipline Black and Hispanic students are more likely to be suspended than white students, according to a report released Tuesday by the Education Department's Office of Civil Rights. Jeffrey Brown discusses the disparities with Christopher Edley Jr. of the University of… Continue watching
Dec 16 Watch Obama Taps Chicago Schools Chief for Education Post President-elect Barack Obama named Chicago schools chief Arne Duncan as his pick for education secretary Tuesday. Analysts examine the challenges facing U.S. schools and how Duncan's efforts to turn around troubled Chicago schools will translate to the Cabinet post. Continue watching