White House Report: Race to the Top Setting the Pace for Gains across the Education System

More support for educators and increases in student achievement are among signs of progress at the anniversary of President Obama’s signature education reform, at least according to the U.S. Education Department. In the four years since the Obama Administration announced its first Race to the Top grants, the President’s signature education initiative has helped spark Read more about White House Report: Race to the Top Setting the Pace for Gains across the Education System[…]

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Help NBPTS revise its new certification process

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) is now recruiting! Help shape the future of National Board Certification and experience a sample of the process that thousands of teachers have called transformative. The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is seeking PreK-12 grade teachers to volunteer to participate in field tests of the revised Read more about Help NBPTS revise its new certification process[…]

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ED launches 2014 Investing in Innovation (i3) Grant Competition

The U.S. Department of Education announced the start of the $134 million 2014 Investing in Innovation (i3) grant competition with the release of the program’s invitation for pre-applications for the i3 “Development” grants (up to $3,000,000 each).  In its fifth round of competition, the i3 program continues to develop and expand practices that accelerate student Read more about ED launches 2014 Investing in Innovation (i3) Grant Competition[…]

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Call for Nominations: Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education

In recent years a substantial number of policy makers, educators, corporate leaders and other concerned citizens have sought to find ways to narrow academic achievement gaps. Some view this task as a matter of basic fairness and equity – assuring that all students have the opportunity to compete on a level playing field – while Read more about Call for Nominations: Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education[…]

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ED Announces 31 Finalists for $120 Million RTT-D

The U.S. Department of Education announced that 31 applications have been selected as finalists for the Race to the Top-District (RTTT-D) competition. The 2013 RTTT-D program will provide close to $120 million to support locally developed plans to personalize and improve student learning, directly increase student achievement and educator effectiveness, close achievement gaps, and prepare Read more about ED Announces 31 Finalists for $120 Million RTT-D[…]

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TNTP Seeks Superlative Teachers for $25,000 Fishman Prize

Applications and nominations are now open for the 2014 Fishman Prize. TNTP, a nonprofit organization working to ensure that all students get excellent teachers, recently opened the third annual application period for the Fishman Prize for Superlative Classroom Practice. The prestigious award is given to four public school teachers a year who demonstrate exceptionally effective Read more about TNTP Seeks Superlative Teachers for $25,000 Fishman Prize[…]

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EQuIP Peer Review Panel Seeking Members Through New Online Portal

EQuIP (Educators Evaluating the Quality of Instructional Products) is an initiative of the American Diploma Project (ADP) Network designed to identify high-quality materials aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Achieve is very excited to announce the selection of a new round of EQuIP Peer Review Panel members. Below is a link to the Read more about EQuIP Peer Review Panel Seeking Members Through New Online Portal[…]

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Risk and Rigor in the Classroom

TNTP, a nonprofit organization working to ensure that all students get excellent teachers, recently released the latest in its one-of-a-kind series of essays on effective teaching written by and for practicing teachers. Titled “Going Deep: Empowering Students to Take Risks, Make Mistakes and Master Difficult Material,” the new paper was written by some of the Read more about Risk and Rigor in the Classroom[…]

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Studies Cast Doubt on Race to the Top

Two recent studies have shown that Race to the Top, the Obama Administration’s signature education initiative to help states close achievement gaps, has not lived up to its billing. The first, by Elaine Weiss of the Broader, Bolder Approach to Education, argues that a lack of time, resources, and tools to address opportunity gaps puts Read more about Studies Cast Doubt on Race to the Top[…]

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Are Personalized Learning Environments the Next Wave of K-12 Education Reform?

The first of the U.S. Department of Education’s Race to the Top District grantees proposed reforms for personalized learning environments that challenge every aspect of the traditional school culture, including what is taught, how it is taught, and where it is taught. Now, as the Department of Education invites districts to apply for a portion Read more about Are Personalized Learning Environments the Next Wave of K-12 Education Reform?[…]

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Kennedy Center Announces the 2013 Inspirational Teacher Award

Did you have a teacher who inspired you? One who changed your life? Is there a teacher you credit with helping you become the person you are today? Do you remember a specific interaction with your teacher that proved to be a moment of inspiration and transformation? Share your story. The Kennedy Center seeks nominations Read more about Kennedy Center Announces the 2013 Inspirational Teacher Award[…]

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Education Department seeks Applications for Student Test Fee Waivers

The Department is currently seeking applications for the Advanced Placement (AP) Test Fee Program and the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program. The AP Test Free Program awards grants to states to enable them to pay all or a portion of AP test fees on behalf of low-income students.  Applications are due June 3.  The Read more about Education Department seeks Applications for Student Test Fee Waivers[…]

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ED Launches 2013 i3 Competition

The U.S. Department of Education announced the start of the $150 million 2013 Investing in Innovation (i3) grant competition with the release of the program’s invitation for pre-applications for the i3 “Development” grant category and the notice of final priorities for the i3 program overall. The announcement incorporates several improvements the Department has made to Read more about ED Launches 2013 i3 Competition[…]

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Spencer Foundation: “Evidence for the Classroom” Request for Proposals

The Spencer Foundation, an organization that investigates “ways in which education, broadly conceived, can be improved around the world,” is seeking research studies to inform the current push for data-based educational reforms. Here is more from the press release: We announce a second-round Request for Proposals (RFP) to promote research that examines the assumptions underlying Read more about Spencer Foundation: “Evidence for the Classroom” Request for Proposals[…]

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$10K Music Educator Award Nominations Open

The GRAMMY Foundation and The Recording Academy are partnering to present their first-ever Music Educator Award.  The award is open to U.S.-based music teachers from kindergarten through college, in public and private schools.  Anyone can nominate a teacher, and teachers may nominate themselves. Nominated teachers will be notified and invited to complete an application. April Read more about $10K Music Educator Award Nominations Open[…]

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Education Department Demands more Evidence

Big changes may be coming in the way the Department of Education selects grant recipients. Last year, the Office of Management and Budget issued a memo to federal agencies requiring them to demonstrate the use of evidence in their fiscal 2014 budget requests. This new requirement signals a shift of emphasis toward the use of Read more about Education Department Demands more Evidence[…]

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