OBAMA PROPOSES MAJOR
INCREASE IN SCHOOL FUNDS

President Obama called for the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in his State of the Union address and then provided major increases in education funding when he submitted his proposed fiscal year 2011 budget to Congress. The Obama budget provides a massive increase in student aid--$156 billion, up from $98 billion in 2008, enough to provide federal assistance to nearly 15 million students. In K-12 education, he proposed a $4 billion increase, including $1.35 billion to make the Race to the Top a permanent program. Another $9.3 billion over 10 years would be alloted for the Early Learning Challenge Fund for pre-school grants to states.www.nrcres.org.

"RACE TO THE TOP"
MOVING FORWARD

The process established by Education Secretary Arne Duncan for the $4.35 billion “Race to the Top” program is moving forward with 40 states and the District of Columbia submitting applications. Winners of the first Race to the Top awards will be announced in April. A second round of applications from states that did not apply or do not receive funding in the first round may apply for the second round. The “Race to the Top” Fund is the largest-ever federal investment in education reform. It is designed to promote the adoption and use of effective policies and practices. President Obama included an additional $1.3 billion in his 2011 budget to continue Race to the Top. See details.