Department Convenes States to Elevate Support for Educators

Four people sitting at table with name cards in front of them. One person standing and speaking at a podium, which is behind the table. A map with the header “growing our educator workforce” is projected on to the screen behind him

By: Roberto J. Rodríguez, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development

Through the Raise the Bar: Lead the World initiative, the U.S. Department of Education is working in partnership with states and school districts to eliminate educator shortages in our nation’s schools. 

Thanks to the leadership of state and local education officials – and fueled by the pandemic relief funds championed by the Biden-Harris Administration and made available by Congress – as of February of this year there were more people working in our public schools than prior to the pandemic. That reflects a dramatic recovery after the loss of 9 percent of all these jobs – an estimated 730,000 – in 2020. That’s great news!  

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Explore careers in clean energy: Enter the Power Your Future Challenge

Explore Careers In Clean Energy: Enter The Power Your Future Challenge

Today, the U.S. Department of Education is pleased to launch the Power Your Future Challenge — the second challenge in its annual CTE Momentum series to prepare high school students for rewarding careers and increase access to career and technical education. The Department invites teams to submit action plans that will advance the use of clean energy in their schools and communities.

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How Students Helped Spur $40 million in Federal Investments in Mental Health Across Kentucky

How Students Helped Spur $40 Million In Federal Investments In Mental Health Across Kentucky

By: Abigail Swisher, Rural Impact Fellow, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

Sam Smith – then a student at Daviess County High School in Owensboro, Kentucky – saw that his classmates were struggling in the wake of the pandemic, so when Kentucky Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman asked if Sam and his peers on the Commissioner’s Youth Advisory Council would help to lead an initiative on youth mental health, he jumped at the chance.  

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Book Bans Are Not Just Bad Policy; They Can Raise Civil Rights Issues

By: Matt Nosanchuk, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Operations and Outreach, Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education

All students deserve access to learning environments that are inclusive and free from discrimination and that nurture their intellect, wellbeing, and creativity, preparing them for success in school and beyond. Books have been the gateway to learning and knowledge for millennia. And parents play a critical role in the education and learning of their children. That has not changed in this digital era.

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Unveiling New Tools for Educators, School Counselors and Advisors: Enhance College Decision-Making with Our Latest College Scorecard Toolkits

Unveiling New Tools For Educators, School Counselors and Advisors: Enhance College Decision-Making with Our Latest College Scorecard Toolkits

By: John Garcia, Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development

The U.S. Department of Education (Department), under the leadership of U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, is committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible higher education system. As part of that commitment, the Department has developed various tools and resources that both foster transparency for users and inform college and career decision making. Today, the Department is introducing two new innovative toolkits that extend the utility and capabilities of our College Scorecard; one tailored specifically for teachers, and another for school counselors and college access advisors. Collectively, these resources are designed to equip our education professionals with the information and tools they need to guide students towards their best postsecondary education decision.  Relatedly, to help inform that process with up-to-date, objective information, the Department recently refreshed several of Scorecard’s key data points such as post completion earning calculations at the institutional and program level to ensure users have access to the most recent value outcomes when comparing programs of study and institutions.

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Full STEM Ahead: Supporting Girls of Color in the Field of STEM

Full STEM Ahead: Supporting Girls Of Color In The Field of STEM

By: Megan Chan, STEM Policy Intern, Office of the Deputy Secretary

In the ever-evolving world of STEM, dedicating spaces and opportunities to amplify girls of color are essential for their overall advancement in the field.

This summer, I am serving as a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) Policy Intern at the U.S. Department of Education (The Department). During my tenure, I have received the opportunity to engage with STEM stakeholders at local, state, and federal levels to foster inclusivity and opportunities for growth in the field. This internship has brought about a number of insightful learning experiences and unexpected reflections on my personal history with STEM.

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Voz Estudiantil: Educación Técnica y Vocacional en Puerto Rico

Voz Estudiantil: Educación Técnica y Vocacional en Puerto Rico

By: Eliomar Santiago Rodriguez, Estudiante de Grado 12 de la Escuela Superior Vocacional Antonio Luchetti en Arecibo, Puerto Rico 

Soy estudiante de grado 12 del taller de Electricidad con Controladores Lógicos Programables (PLC, por sus siglas en inglés) y Energías Renovables en la Escuela Superior Vocacional Antonio Luchetti, en Arecibo, Puerto Rico.

Mi educación definitivamente me ha preparado para tener una carrera exitosa. A lo largo de los tres años que llevo estudiando electricidad en la Escuela Superior Vocacional Antonio Luchetti, he podido adquirir conocimientos con maestros y facultad de alto calibre, que me han preparado y permitido tener una carrera exitosa. Más allá de brindarme una educación de calidad, los maestros también han sido un gran apoyo. Por ejemplo, un maestro mío suele traducir material académico del inglés al español para que cuando los estudiantes recibamos el material, sea más fácil entenderlo.

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Student Voice: Career and Technical Education in Puerto Rico

An orange and purple gradient graphic with the ED cap logo and white text that reads: "Student Voice: Career and Technical Education in Puerto Rico"

By: Eliomar Santiago Rodriguez, Senior Student at Antonio Luchetti Vocational High School in Arecibo, Puerto Rico 

I am a 12th grade student of the Electricity with the Programmer Logical Controller (PLC) and Renewable Energy workshop at the Antonio Luchetti Vocational High School in Arecibo, Puerto Rico.

My education has definitely prepared me to pursue a successful career. Through the three years that I have been studying electricity at the Antonio Luchetti Vocational High School, I have been able to acquire knowledge with teachers and faculty of high caliber, which have prepared and enabled me to have a successful career. Beyond providing me quality education, the teachers have been a great support as well. For example, a teacher of mine often translates academic material from English to Spanish so that when students receive the material, it’s easier for us to understand it. 

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Update on Department of Education’s Postsecondary Education Regulatory Work

A blue graphic with the ED cap logo and white text that reads: "Update on Department of Education’s Postsecondary Education Regulatory Work"

By: James Kvaal, U.S. Under Secretary of Education

No president in history has done more to fix a broken student debt system than President Biden – including approving loan forgiveness for more than 4.7 million people and creating the SAVE plan, the most affordable repayment plan ever. But loan relief, alone, is not enough. We must also address the root causes of unaffordable debt.

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Improvements for Borrowers Working Toward PSLF

By: James Kvaal, U.S. Under Secretary of Education

Since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration, over 942,000 public service workers have received the $68 billion in relief they are entitled to under the bipartisan Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). Prior to the Biden Administration, only 7,000 people in total had received debt forgiveness through PSLF.

This week, the U.S. Department of Education’s (Department) office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) is updating how borrowers manage their participation in the PSLF Program. These exciting changes have been in development for many years as the Department has worked to both overhaul loan servicing and implement significant improvements to its loan forgiveness programs, which include PSLF.

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