Note: This column ran in the August 16, 2013 edition of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune: What do economic development, better jobs, and our kids’ future all have in common? Good schools. In a few days schools will be back in session. But are those schools good enough? The education our kids get will determine how well […]
Category Archives: STEM
The final Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) were released on Tuesday, April 9th and they call for some dramatic changes to the way science is taught in the United States. The NGSS guidelines are rigorous: they are intended to combat widespread scientific ignorance, provide a set of internationally benchmarked standards for K-12 science education and […]
Education Funding Update This year, a 15% carryover of Title 1 funds are allowed, so there is still some money to be spent. However, under sequestration, federal education funds will be cut around 5 to 7 percent; as these funds are often used by districts for content purchasing, the publishing industry will be hit harder. […]
On April 10, I attended a Hearing of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education, chaired by Rep. Todd Rokita (R-IN), where they reviewed the need to evaluate the federal government’s STEM investment to ensure it is helping students complete for jobs in these high-demand STEM fields. By 2018 the United States will […]
Bennett Appointed as Florida Education Commissioner After losing his re-election bid as Indiana superintendent of public instruction, Tony Bennett won appointment as Florida’s education commissioner. Arc worked with Tony Bennett’s administration in Indiana and we will be watching closely as he looks to bring reform to Florida. If you need government relations lobbying guidance in […]
Mayors Endorse “Parent-Trigger” Efforts Nationwide At their annual conference last month, the U.S. Conference of Mayors endorsed so-called “parent-trigger” laws that enable parents to take over failing schools to implement personnel and program changes. Though the laws are opposed by teachers’ unions, support for the laws among the nation’s mayors crosses party lines, including Chicago […]
FY13 Education Budget and STEM Funding On June 14, the Senate Appropriations Committee released its version of the FY13 education budget. (As of this writing, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, Education, and Related Agencies had yet to finish its version of the bill). Under the Senate version, the Department of Education would receive […]
I recently had the incredible opportunity to attend a session of the Community Leaders Briefing Series at the White House on July 15th, along with about 150 other community leaders from Florida. The Briefing Series is sponsored by the White House Office of Public Engagement, and gives grassroots leaders the opportunity to hear directly from […]