Feb 14 2009
Stimulus Plan to Help Education Reform
Arne Duncan, Education Secretary, has proposed $5 billion of the stimulus plan to be used into changing the education system including reformation of programs in early childhood, K-12, and college education. The plan includes a revamp of schools and possible reformation of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002. The recently appointed Secretary’s ideas are to modernize schools, prevent more teacher layoffs, and reward innovation.
Duncan wants to not only take this financial opportunity to prevent job losses, but to improve and modernize schools. Part of this is to improve teacher quality by offering performance-pay plans and alternative teacher training programs. This former head of the Chicago Public School system is interested in taking a closer look at the No Child Left Behind Act and make adjustments that will be more beneficial to children’s education.
For higher education, he has suggested creating incentives for colleges to graduate with a degree in hand. He also wants to put more into early childhood education and expand federal funding for preschools and other child-care programs.
To do all this, Duncan is soliciting advice and ideas from teachers and administration across the country.
All I can say is, It’s about time!! Comments?
