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federal funding

Feds should take greater role in funding education for poor students April 09, 2013 By: Ralph Martire The American Dream really boils down to one simple proposition—the circumstances of an individual’s birth should not limit his or her future. Regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, income level or social class, and irrespective of the family one is born into or the community in which he or she lives, every American should have both the right and opportunity to rise to the very top, limited solely by individual drive and ability. Read More \| (5) Comments	Illinois awarded Early Learning Challenge funds December 06, 2012 By: Rebecca Harris Illinois has won $34.8 million in the federal Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge grant contest, the U.S. Department of Education announced today. Read More \| (0) Comments
For the Record: Teacher Incentive Fund Grant June 25, 2012 By: Rebecca Harris Disagreement with the Chicago Teachers Union over merit pay has apparently scuttled a $34 million federal merit pay grant that CPS won in fall 2010. Even so, the district’s recently released grant application provides a blueprint of CPS’ plans to use merit pay to address ongoing issues with teacher quality and retention. Read More \| (3) Comments	CPS awarded grants to "transform" four high schools June 20, 2012 By: Sarah Karp This story has been updated to reflect the actions of the Illinois State Board of Education at their June 21 meeting. CPS was awarded on Thursday a $25 million federal School Improvement Grant to perform what is called "transformation" on four high schools and to turnaround one. Read More \| (17) Comments
Failing Illinois high schools improve with federal cash: study April 18, 2012 By: Lorraine Forte Illinois high schools that are part of the multi- billion federal School Improvement Grant program showed improvement in student attendance, truancy and mobility but have yet to make major inroads in improving academics, according to a report released Wednesday. Read More \| (3) Comments	In Illinois, failing high schools improve with federal cash April 18, 2012 By: Lorraine Forte Illinois high schools that are part of the multi- billion federal School Improvement Grant program showed improvement in student attendance, truancy and mobility but have yet to make major inroads in improving academics, according to a report released Wednesday. Read More \| (0) Comments
Federal money jump-starts school 'transformation' April 15, 2012 By: Sarah Karp When Pam Glynn walked into Hancock High School four years ago as the new principal, the school was on the verge of falling into an achievement black hole. Over the past decade, the percentage of students meeting or exceeding standards on the ISAT fell from a third to about 10 percent. Read More \| (0) Comments	Federal program a work-in-progress April 15, 2012 By: Alyson Klein, Education Week After two years, the federal program providing billions of dollars to help states and districts close or remake some of their worst-performing schools remains an ambitious work in progress, with roughly 1,200 turnaround efforts under way but still no verdict on its effectiveness. Read More \| (0) Comments
Will recession hinder long-term gains? April 15, 2012 By: Andrew Bronstein For the casual visitor, it’s easy to miss that Southeast High School in rural Kansas—once among the lowest academic performers in the state—is in the midst of a profound transformation. Like so many other Kansas schools, the building in Cherokee (population: 722) shows the telltale signs of a suffering economy. Bus routes have been cut, as have supplies. Custodians, secretaries and cafeteria workers took an eight-day pay cut. During the harsh winters, students bundle up to make it through classes where the temperature hovers at an uncomfortable, but cost-saving 68 degrees. Read More \| (0) Comments

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