School Success
A Report Card for America’s Education System
This Voices report analyzes student performance on federal test scores, and the results are alarming. Only one in three American fourth graders reads proficiently, according to the National Assessment of Education Progress. That test, from the U.S. Department of Education, also shows that only 40 percent of fourth graders are doing well enough in math. And some truly appalling race and income gaps in performance persist.
State assessments, on the other hand, say everything is fine. Most statewide tests show that most of their students are proficient in reading and math. This Voices report looks at why the federal test is so much more rigorous and what can be done to raise standards and address inequality.
Education town hall meeting series
Thirteen Voices members held town halls and community meetings across the country to educate key decision makers about the importance of early learning programs to prepare children for school. As Congress works on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), advocates across the country lead the charge to inform members of Congress about early learning priorities and promote school readiness.
Education in the president’s FY13 budget
The President’s fiscal year (FY) 2013 proposed budget request for education is $69.8 billion in discretionary funding. This represents an increase of $1.7 billion, or 2.5 percent over FY2012 funding. The 2013 request is intended to continue education reform and support three major initiatives: (1) the increase in the quality and affordability of postsecondary education, (2) the advancement of the teaching profession, and (3) the support of linkages between school and work; and alignment between school and workforce requirements.
Portal
