The Department of Education in the United States wants to be a global leader in education. We’re focused on helping students and educators reach their full potential. This effort is called “Raise the Bar: Lead the World”. It has four main goals: achieving academic excellence, improving learning conditions, creating global pathways, and making college more affordable and accessible¹.

Our main goal is to give every student a strong education. We believe in an education that is both detailed and ready for the future. We support new ways of teaching, intensive tutoring, and summer programs that make a difference. These plans aim to help students do their best and gain skills for success in today’s world².

Yet, we see education’s challenges go further than just classrooms. We work on big issues in higher education, like not having enough teachers, students feeling overwhelmed, and everyone not having the same chances. Our work involves making schools more welcoming, supporting the global experience, and looking after teachers. We’re set on changing how everyone experiences higher education for the better³.

Key Takeaways

• Empowering students and educators with the tools and resources they need to thrive
• Investing in innovative teaching and learning models, high-intensity tutoring, and impactful summer learning programs
• Addressing systemic challenges in higher education, from teacher shortages to inequitable access and affordability
• Prioritizing faculty well-being, inclusive campus cultures, and global engagement opportunities
• Driving academic excellence, institutional transformation, and global competitiveness

Achieving Academic Excellence

The U.S. Department of Education helps states and districts drive academic success. It focuses on new teaching and learning ways to boost student skills quickly. It also supports intensive tutoring and small group help⁴.

Innovative Teaching and Learning Models

The Department knows giving all students a great, tough education is key. It invests in proven tactics to help schools and districts. This is to ensure students get the education and help they need to do well⁴.

Top academic programs often work with the community. They do this through talks, partnerships, work experiences, and projects that help others. It’s vital for teachers to be well-qualified. This is because they bring deep knowledge, tools, and support to the classroom⁵.

High-Intensity Tutoring and Small Group Support

The Department also helps with focused tutoring and group support. These programs aim to quickly better students’ skills and close learning gaps. They focus on helping those who might not get as much help otherwise⁴. The investment in these proven methods aims to give every student the personalized attention they need to excel.

Getting students involved in job shadowing or internships boosts their learning and skill use. A setting that cares for all of a student’s needs and promotes teamwork helps a lot too. It’s key for students to learn more than just facts and figures⁵.

“Our commitment to academic excellence is unwavering. We will continue to invest in strategies that empower educators, engage students, and unlock the full potential of every learner.”

Regular checks on programs, and helping teachers and staff learn from global experiences, are very important. These efforts play a big part in high-quality education⁵. By encouraging new ideas, working together, and always getting better, the Department is focused on helping schools and districts offer game-changing education⁴⁵⁶.

Comprehensive and Rigorous Education

The U.S. Department of Education works hard for students to get a full and challenging education. It focuses on STEM and arts education. These skills are important for thinking, creating, and solving problems in the 21st century⁷.

STEM and Arts Education

The “YOU Belong in STEM” effort brought $17 million to help 12 million students and 100,000 STEM teachers⁷. About $36 million supports bringing arts into education, helping students in need and those with disabilities⁷. An extra $8 million goes to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. This helps around 1.5 million students and teachers every year⁷.

Equitable Student Disciplinary Practices

The Department wants to make sure student discipline is fair. Schools should be welcoming to all, helping students learn and grow both academically and emotionally⁸. This tackles the issue of not having a clear way to define and apply academic rigor for all students⁸. The aim is to work with states. Together, they intend to use $19 billion to improve learning, support mental health, and keep good teachers⁷.

The Department also puts more than $14 billion in IDEA state grants. This helps improve how children and students with disabilities do in school⁷. The goal is to offer a top-notch education to every student, no matter their background or abilities.

“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” – Malcolm X

By focusing on STEM, arts, and fair discipline, the Department of Education is setting the stage for success in the 21st century. This approach prepares all students to excel and make a difference in their communities and the world⁹.

⁷⁸⁹

Summer Learning and Enrichment Programs

Summer learning and enrichment programs are key to boost academic excellence, the U.S. Department of Education says¹⁰. They let students learn more, through fun, project work outside regular classes¹⁰. With schools working together with groups in the community, students get to grow not just in school stuff but also socially and emotionally¹⁰.

The Department is making sure more students get access to top-notch summer and after-school learning¹¹. Thanks to President Biden’s plan, over $122 billion is going toward reopening schools and helping students catch up¹¹. A big part of this is over $1 billion for summer programs. All states and some U.S. territories are joining in to make sure students, especially those struggling from the pandemic, get a chance to do better in school and connect with others¹¹.

Summer learning programs make a big difference¹⁰. Kids often fall behind in math and reading during summer, but the impact is greater on those from less advantaged families¹⁰. By ninth grade, how well these students do in summer can explain a big part of why there’s an achievement gap¹⁰. Good summer programs can stop this gap from growing and help students do better for up to two years after they take part¹⁰.

There are clear signs that summer programs work¹⁰. For example, students going into sixth grade showed huge growth in reading after the summer of 2012¹⁰. One project, Fun in the Sun, helped 250 kids improve by 2.1 grade levels in reading and language skills¹⁰. In Indianapolis, Summer Advantage made students better in reading and math back in 2012 as well¹⁰.

These programs also help teachers be better at their job¹⁰. Most teachers said what they learned in summer improved their teaching during the year. And almost all of them felt a closer bond with students after teaching in the summer¹⁰. They see summer learning programs as a key part of helping students succeed overall¹⁰.

The Department is really working hard to give more kids quality summer learning and enrichment opportunities¹². It recently gave praise to 13 groups for making a big effort in this area. They all had to show at least 20% more students joining their programs from one school year to the next¹². These awards went to places in need, showing the focus on helping every child¹².

Starting in July 2022, the Engage Every Student project is helping more students get better after-school learning, including in summer¹². This is a big partnership. It brings together many groups to make sure students have the right support for success¹².

The Department’s work on summer programs is crucial¹⁰. By supporting these programs, they’re making a difference in kids’ lives, especially those in tough situations. These programs don’t just help students catch up in school. They also get students ready for a bright future¹⁰.

Boldly Improving Learning Conditions

The U.S. Department of Education makes big moves to improve how we learn. It’s working on filling in teacher gaps by making sure they get paid well and have good working conditions¹³. The Department is also big on boosting investment in helping students’ mental health. It knows that mental well-being is key for learning, and wants to make sure every student has access to services to help¹⁴.

Addressing Teacher Shortage

The teacher gap was made worse by the pandemic. Out of the jobs lost, 82% have come back, but there are still fewer people teaching now than before the pandemic¹⁴. To meet this challenge, the Department got an extra $1.9 billion since 2021 to invest in teachers¹⁴.

It’s also working with the Labor Department to grow teacher apprenticeship programs. Now, from two states, sixteen have approved programs¹⁴. There are new rules to help with student loans too. These changes will make becoming a teacher more affordable¹⁴.

Investing in Student Mental Health and Well-being

The Department understands how important it is to look after students’ mental health. They’re making a big investment in this area. School districts are using around $30 billion to help teachers be better at supporting student’s mental health¹⁴.

It’s also sharing tips with states and districts on better using these funds. The goal is to improve support for student’s mental health and development¹⁴.

By tackling the teacher shortage and investing in mental health, the Department is improving how we learn. They want to make sure every student has the help and support they need. The goal is to create schools that support all the different needs of their students¹³.

Higher Education Excellence

The U.S. Department of Education takes steps to boost excellence in higher education. It aims to improve wages and working terms for faculty. These efforts help bring quality teaching and success for students. The department also supports professional development. This is for teachers and staff to keep improving with the latest evidence-based practices.

Promoting Better Pay and Working Conditions for Faculty

Good pay and work conditions draw in the best faculty. So, the Department pushes for policies that mean fair wages and a good workplace. They want to create a place where teachers feel supported and rewarded¹⁵.

By giving out the HEED Award, the Department spotlights schools that value their staff’s well-being. Colleges and universities who shine in diversity and inclusion get this award¹⁵.

For example, in 2021, TCU and its School of Medicine earned this recognition¹⁵. Schools from the U.S. and Canada are eligible. They get assessed on their diversity efforts through various programs¹⁵.

Professional Development for Teachers and Support Staff

Teachers and support staff need continuous learning. This is vital to apply the latest in teaching and to get better at it. The Department supports programs that aim for organizational excellence through learning and student-focused actions.

The 2023 HEED Award shows how different schools excel in higher education quality. Across the U.S., there’s recognition for schools creating inclusive and supportive spaces for everyone¹⁶.

The Department follows the changing higher education scene. It works on key issues like student mental health and cyber security. It also aims to make education more affordable yet still effective¹⁷. Through better pay, work terms, and learning opportunities, the aim is to uplift educators. They’re key to achieving organizational excellence in higher education.

“Investing in our faculty and staff is crucial for maintaining the highest standards of higher education quality and preparing our students for success in the 21st century.”

– U.S. Department of Education

Pathways for Global Engagement

The U.S. Department of Education is advancing pathways that empower students for worldwide competition. It sets up and expands career and college routes. These pathways help students get credentials for top jobs¹⁸. The Department also offers more ways for students to learn other languages. Knowing multiple languages is key for success in a global society¹⁹.

Career and College Pathways

By 2027, many jobs will need more than high school education. The Department is working with businesses to link education and jobs more closely. This prepares students for the working world¹⁹. It’s also making it easier for students to take college classes early. This has been shown to help students do better in high school and go to college more¹⁹. Students also get to learn how their class studies relate to the real work field. This can help them earn more in the future and figure out what jobs they like¹⁹. Giving skills that industries want makes students more likely to get hired after school¹⁹.

Opportunities for Multilingual Education

In today’s economy, knowing more than one language is very important. In 2019, 5.1 million students who were learning English were in public schools. This was 10 percent of all students¹⁹. To help these students, the Department gave out $890 million in grants. It was to make education better for those learning English and for new immigrants¹⁹. States and school districts are finding new ways to encourage and celebrate students who can speak more than one language. They’re using special recognition at the state level¹⁹. With the ARP money, states and schools are creating new language learning chances. They’re also training teachers and making sure students have needed digital tools¹⁹. They’re doing this to improve programs that teach in two languages. These programs are meant to help students become strong in their second language. This helps them succeed in the global job market²⁰.

“A Seal of Biliteracy is suggested as recognition for multilingual graduates and should be celebrated at graduation as much as an honors cord.”²⁰

The Department’s work in career, college, and language education is to ready students for the world’s future challenges. It’s about more than success at work. It’s also to build a better democracy and economy¹⁸¹⁹²⁰.

Increasing College Affordability

The U.S. Department of Education is working hard to make college more affordable and help more students graduate. They’re doing this by supporting colleges that are open to all, giving more financial aid to those in need, and by using smarter ways to help students finish their degrees. The Department is also improving the student loan system, making it easier to pay back loans, and offering some students important debt relief. This makes sure everyone has a fair chance to go to college.

College has become more expensive over the years. From 1980 to 2022, the cost of getting a higher education went up by 136%, even after we adjust for inflation²¹. Now, tuition and fees are a big chunk of public schools’ income, thanks to less money coming from the government per student²¹. Spending more on teaching can help students graduate, but the difference is small. For example, spending 1% more on teaching leads to just a 0.1% increase in graduation rates²¹.

To deal with these problems, the Education Department has a few ideas. They want to double the Pell Grant to help students at 95 more schools²¹. The administration is also planning to increase the Pell Grant by $820²¹. And with students facing a $2,256 gap in their financial needs in 2020-21, more help is definitely needed²¹.

Going to college has big benefits. In 2020, those benefits for graduates were between 13.5% and 35.9%²². Those who go to college earn $18,000 more every year than those who just finish high school²². But, the cost of tuition and fees for a full-time student has gone up a lot since 1960, now sitting at about $14,000 yearly²².

Making college affordable is key to fairness and diversity in education. First-generation students, 37% of all students, often come from poorer families and face more challenges staying in school²². Dropout rates for Black and Latinx students are higher than White students²². The Education Department is working to fix this with targeted support. Their goal is to make everyone’s college journey fair and open the door to all.

College costs can’t just be seen as a family issue. Less state money for schools has made tuition go up. For instance, in Kentucky, support for schools dropped by 21% from 2008 to 2020. This caused tuition at some public schools to jump by 51% to 73%²³. Now, schools depend more on tuition money, which went from over a third of their income in 2008 to more than half in 2019. This shift has led to more student debt in Kentucky, with loans growing by over 75% from 2008 to 2018 at public colleges²³.

There’s a big need to tackle college costs for moral and economic reasons. Unemployment is higher for those with less education, and the COVID-19 crisis hit them harder²³. By making college more doable, the Education Department can boost lives and the nation’s future.

“Investing in college affordability is not just about lowering the financial barriers to higher education, but about unlocking the transformative potential of learners and communities across the country.”

Promoting Equity and Inclusion

The U.S. Department of Education is dedicated to making sure everyone gets a fair chance at education. It supports colleges and universities that are diverse. This helps all students, regardless of who they are, to get a great education and do well in their studies²⁴.

Supporting Inclusive Colleges and Universities

The Department helps schools become more fair and open to all. One key event is the Institute on Digital Equity on September 28, 2023. It helps with making sure everyone has the same access to technology, from the campus to the entire region²⁴. Another important effort is the Leadership Institutes for Women and Gender-Diverse Leaders on November 19, 2024. This event will make sure women and those of other genders can lead better and more effectively in academia²⁴.

Using Open Educational Resources (OER) is seen as a big step for fairness in education. A webinar on April 20, 2023, shows how to use OER to support diversity, equity, and inclusion. This empowers schools to be more welcoming for everyone²⁴. The AAC&U Inclusive Excellence Commission (IEC) also helps a lot. It asks schools to do more to include all students, especially in science²⁴.

Increasing Financial Aid for Low-Income Students

Making sure more students can afford college is a key goal for the Department. It increases financial help for those from low-income families. This way, we knock down the obstacles stopping students from showing their best²⁵. The Leveraging Open Educational Resources to Advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion guide shows how to use OER to improve learning and be more fair to all. These efforts, along with focusing on making schools inclusive, are very important for educational fairness and giving chances to all kinds of students²⁶.

“Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives should not be confined to a single office or program, requiring a diversified approach for equitable outcomes.”²⁵

By backing diverse schools and helping students with less money, the U.S. Department of Education is changing the game. It aims to make higher education more fair and open for all learners to do well and enjoy success²⁵.

Conclusion

The U.S. Department of Education focuses on four main areas for better higher education²⁷. These include achieving academic excellence, improving how we learn, making a way for global involvement, and making college more affordable while helping more students finish.

They invest in new ways to teach and learn. They work on strong courses, offer summer learning, and give quality teaching. Their aim is to help all students succeed and ensure the U.S. thrives in a tough, connected world²⁸.

They want to give students top-notch education. This will set students up for a bright future and help them impact their communities and the world²⁹. Their plan focuses on making sure every student can reach their full potential. They aim to support students throughout life, so they can do meaningful work.

The Department works hard to create a learning space that focuses on students. They encourage new ideas, always improving. Their goal is to prepare the youth for success in the modern world. By doing this, the United States can stay as a top figure in higher education. It also prepares its people for ongoing prosperity and a strong influence worldwide.

Source Links

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14. https://www.ed.gov/raisethebar/improve-learning-conditions – Raise the Bar: Boldly Improve Learning Conditions
15. https://www.insightintodiversity.com/about-the-heed-award/ – About the HEED Award
16. https://www.insightintodiversity.com/about-the-heed-award/2023-recipients/ – 2023 HEED Award Recipients
17. https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/public-sector/solutions/higher-education-innovation-trends-about-center-for-higher-education-excellence.html – Exploring higher education innovation and trends | Deloitte US
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