Department of Education - A respite from poverty
The Department of Education fosters many educational programs that help Americans realize the American dream and put an end to poverty. Gaining knowledge means gaining a piece of the pie and that’s what the Department of Education can assist each one with. From the No Child Left Behind Act to the college bound in need of funds to further their education.
The Department of Education’s purpose is to ensure equal access and promote educational excellence for all students in our nation. To help achieve this mission, it also provides formula and competitive grants to states and local educational agencies to support improvement of elementary and secondary education. The Department of Education implements student financial assistance and higher education programs designed to ensure that postsecondary education is affordable and within reach. The Department of Education also conducts research and evaluates information on the best educational practices and produces statistics on the condition of education in the United States.
The Department of Education offers Title I Grants to help local educational agencies to help schools in high poverty communities with the No Child Left Behind Act. Special Educational Grants are made available to states to help meet the needs of students with disabilities.
Pell Grant funding for postsecondary students are currently eligible to receive a maximum award of $4,000 to ensure a solid college degree.
Not only does the Department of Education provide educational funds for these institutions, it also holds them accountable for positive student outcomes.
The Behind Act of 2001 was implemented to improve elementary and secondary education by supporting accountability for results, expand parental choice, increase local flexibility of spending, and focus on what boosts performance. The latest news is that national reading tests reveals that two thirds of fourth graders in high poverty schools cannot read at a basic level, showing too many are already being left behind.
As a result, states will now hold all public schools accountable for improving student achievement through tougher state academic standards. Annual progress goals helps the teacher ensure that all students reach proficiency in reading and math by the 2013–14 school year; and annual testing for all students in grades three through eight. Poorly performing districts and schools will receive assistance, but will later face increasingly tough consequences aimed at getting them on course. Children will not be trapped in failing schools but will be allowed to transfer to better public schools or obtain outside help from a public or private tutor of their choice. States and districts will have the flexibility to shift some federal funds from one program site to another in order to best meet local needs.
The Department of Education website can be reached at http://www.ed.gov/, or by calling 800-USA-LEARN. Rod Paige serves as Secretary to the Department of Education that employs 4,620 personnel at 10 regional and 11 field offices.