January 14, 2010
Editorial
The Star-Ledger

New Jersey is scurrying to win up to $400 million from a pot of federal grant money known as Race to the Top. But its chances are jeopardized by the state’s largest teachers union, which objects to a plan to tie student test scores to teacher evaluations. - read on

By THOMAS W. CARROLL
The New York Post

Will the Legislature do what’s needed to qualify New York for some of the $4 billion in Race for the Top funds?

After months of wrangling, Albany will decide sometime in a 90-minute window on Tuesday, between 3 p.m., when the state Senate reconvenes, and 4:30 p.m., when the state’s application is due in Washington, DC. - read on

January 5, 2010
By DIANE D’AMICO Education Writer
The Press of Atlantic City

TRENTON – Local school districts have a week to decide if they want a share of $400 million in federal money.

But getting it could mean longer school days and years, tougher teacher evaluations and more student testing.

The president of the state’s largest teacher’s union is already telling local unions to reject the plan. - read on

December 29, 2009
By Frederick M. Hess
The American

About a year after Arne Duncan was nominated to serve as Secretary of Education, today’s Washington Post finally got around to running a story that takes a slightly critical slant in assessing just how well Chicago’s schools actually did during Duncan’s seven-year tenure as superintendent. - read on

By Rita Giordano
Philly Inquirer

New Jersey will apply for the first round of federal stimulus funds to public schools after all.

The highly competitive “Race to the Top” program, which will distribute $4.35 billion nationally, could provide as much as $400 million in additional education aid to New Jersey. Of the total amount, $350 million has been earmarked to help develop national scholastic assessments. - read on

August 02, 2009
by Kristen Alloway
THE STAR-LEDGER

Highland Park schools are spending $15,000 in federal stimulus money to ensure students who need reading and writing help get it this summer.

Rockaway Township schools sent nearly 40 teachers for summer training, and officials there are purchasing dozens of interactive whiteboards and other items with $277,000 in federal funds.

And the Newark school district will spend $2.2 million from the federal government to help struggling students get on track. - read on

April 8, 2009
By SAM DILLON
The New York Times

One of the most drastic expansions of public education in recent American history unfolded quietly in this decade, as dozens of states added free pre-kindergarten classes to their traditional kindergarten to high school offerings.

But the recession appears to have stalled the expansion of state-financed pre-kindergarten programs, according to Steven Barnett, a professor at Rutgers University who is a co-author of a new report documenting trends in early childhood education. - read on

By SAM DILLON
The New York Times

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan told the nation’s governors on Wednesday that in exchange for billions of dollars in federal education aid provided under the economic stimulus law, he wants new information about the performance of their public schools, much of which could be embarrassing. - read on