Last week, the U.S. Department of Education released its blueprint for reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006. The Perkins Act is the principle source of federal funding for secondary and postsecondary career and technical education programs.

In the blueprint, effective, high-quality career and technical education programs (CTE) are defined as being aligned with college- and career-readiness standards as well as the needs of…

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On March 21, 2012, the Alliance for Excellent Education held a Webinar to provide updates on President Obama’s FY 2013 proposed budget, Elementary and Secondary Act (ESEA) waivers, and the ESEA reauthorization.

According to the panelists, President Obama’s $47 billion proposed budget includes a 3.8% increase from the current funding level in discretionary funding for the Department of Education and focuses on already established programs. Eight hundred and…

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This month, the U.S. Department of Education released two reports that raise important concerns as we think about the goal of preparing all students for college and career.

One report presents findings from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) fall 2010 data collection and examines the price of postsecondary attendance.[1] The report notes a substantial increase over the past decade in average tuition and required fees; for…

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On April 15, 2011, President Obama signed into law the FY2011 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, which reduces government spending by $38 billion from April through September 2011, when the fiscal year ends.  In a previous post, Continuing Resolution Discontinues High School Programs, we detailed the proposed cuts by an earlier House version of the bill.  This post records the actual appropriations and cuts to programs that affect high…

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On Saturday, February 19, the House passed a FY 2011 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, which would cut $11.55 billion, or 16.1%, from the current 2011 education budget, eliminating 60 programs.  These proposed cuts send a message that conflicts with the president’s plan to increase investment in education, detailed in his proposed FY 2012 budget.  The Continuing Resolution, which faces an uphill fight in the Senate, would eliminate several programs…

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On Monday, February 14, President Obama laid out his plan for the 2012 budget.  Despite spending freezes and cuts throughout government programs, the proposed budget promises to boost funding for education priorities.  President Obama explained in his remarks, “Even as we cut out things that we can afford to do without, we have a responsibility to invest in those areas that will have the…

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The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California (ACLU) is suing the state of California over high school fees for courses and materials.  According to the ACLU, public schools across the state have been charging students fees for activities ranging from joining sports teams to enrolling in required classes. As school districts across the nation seek creative solutions to budget deficits, students and their families have also seen the introduction…

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