Obama pushes states to use billions of federal dollars to overhaul failing schools

October 6th, 2009 Schools, nonprofits can get extra stimulus dollarsWASHINGTON — School districts and nonprofit partners can benefit from a $650 million competitive grant fund for school reforms pushed by President Barack Obama. The money is part of the economic stimulus law, which gave Obama $5 billion to help overhaul schools.

September 24th, 2009 White House looks to improve No Child Left BehindWASHINGTON — The Obama administration is committed to the school accountability at the heart of the No Child Left Behind law championed by former President George W. Bush but also wants to make changes, says Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

September 23rd, 2009 White House backs accountability of 'No Child' lawWASHINGTON — The Obama administration is committed to the testing and school accountability at the heart of the No Child Left Behind law championed by former President George W. Bush, Education Secretary Arne Duncan said.

September 14th, 2009 WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama Monday said the need for hundreds of billions of dollars in financial industry bailouts was easing as the global economy recovers, but continued to push for a drastic overhaul of financial regulation in the US. One year after the collapse of investment banking giant Lehman Brothers Holdings, a bankruptcy that sent Wall Street into a tailspin, Obama was looking to regain momentum for his proposals to prevent such a crisis from ever happening again.

September 9th, 2009 Obama: 'I will protect Medicare'WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Wednesday night promised to protect Medicare and reassured the elderly that Medicare funds would not be used to pay for a health care overhaul. The president said the plan would eliminate billions of dollars in waste and fraud and what he called the "unwarranted subsidies" that go to insurance companies.

August 22nd, 2009 Teachers' union criticizes Obama on schools stanceWASHINGTON — The National Education Association pointedly criticized the Obama administration, saying the president is relying too heavily on charter schools and standardized tests in his attempt to overhaul the nation's schools. "We urge the administration to step outside of this narrow agenda," the nation's largest teachers union said in a public statement filed Friday with the Education Department.

August 20th, 2009 Teach for America eligible for stimulusWASHINGTON — Teach for America and programs like it could benefit from a $650 million competitive grant fund for school reforms pushed by President Barack Obama. The money is part of the economic stimulus law, which provided $5 billion to help Obama overhaul schools.

June 8th, 2009 Ed secretary: judge teachers on how students doWASHINGTON — Teachers should be judged on student performance, though not solely on test scores, Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Monday. Duncan supports merit pay for teachers, an often controversial practice linking raises or bonuses to student achievement.

May 13th, 2009 Education secretary: Detroit schools 'ground zero'DETROIT — Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Wednesday that Detroit's troubled public schools are "ground zero" for education in the U.S. and promised federal help if leaders are willing to make necessary changes.

May 11th, 2009 Obama wants to turn around 5,000 failing schoolsWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama intends to use $5 billion to prod local officials to close failing schools and reopen them with new teachers and principals. The goal is to turn around 5,000 failing schools in the next five years, Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Monday, by beefing up funding for the federal school turnaround program created by the No Child Left Behind law.

May 11th, 2009 Obama wants to see 5,000 failing schools closeWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama wants to see 5,000 failing schools close and reopen with new principals and teachers over the next five years. Education Secretary Arne Duncan says kids have only one shot at a good education.

May 8th, 2009 AP source: Obama wants to extend voucher programWASHINGTON — An administration official says President Barack Obama wants to extend the school voucher program in the District of Columbia until students now in the program graduate from high school. Obama plans to release his proposal in detail on Thursday.

May 6th, 2009 White House seeks comments on education lawWASHINGTON — The Obama administration is committed to the testing and school accountability at the heart of the No Child Left Behind law championed by former President George W. Bush, Education Secretary Arne Duncan said.

May 5th, 2009 No Child: Obama prepares for overhaulWASHINGTON — Education Secretary Arne Duncan is a man on a mission: to hear what teachers, students and parents in at least 15 states think about No Child Left Behind, the controversial education law championed by former President George W. Bush. Duncan is visiting schools in West Virginia Tuesday, the first stop in the first steps toward reviewing and reforming the program.

May 5th, 2009 White House to seek input on education lawWASHINGTON — Education Secretary Arne Duncan is a man on a mission: to hear what teachers, students and parents in at least 15 states think about No Child Left Behind, the controversial education law championed by former President George W. Bush. Duncan is visiting schools in West Virginia Tuesday, the first stop in the first steps toward reviewing and reforming the program.