Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced that starting tomorrow $13 billion will be available for schools and that millions of current and former college students will benefit from better student loans and financial aid.
“July 1 is an important date in our efforts to reform schools and to make college accessible and affordable,” Duncan said in a telephone press conference. “We’ll be releasing important dollars to support schools reforms. We’ll be making tuition and student loans more affordable.”
On July 1, the Department will make more than $13 billion in fiscal 2009 available for the Title I program for disadvantaged students, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Improving Teacher Quality State Grants, and several other categorical programs supporting schools. The rest of the money from the fiscal 2009 budget will become available starting Oct. 1.
Although the federal government provides less than 10 percent of the funding for the average school district, the federal funds available ensure that districts will provide necessary and appropriate services to disadvantaged children and students with disabilities, Duncan said in the press conference.
Duncan also highlighted several changes to student aid and student loan programs that will make college more affordable to current students and student loans easier to repay for millions of former students.
Those changes include:
The maximum Pell Grant will increase to $5,350 for the 2009-10 school year, 13 percent increase from last year.
The payments for millions of people paying back federal student loans will fall as interest rates on their loans decrease.
The fees to originate a new loan will fall by half of a percentage point. Next year, it will fall by that much again. The changes will free more money for those students to use for tuition.
Borrowers also become eligible to reduce their monthly payments based on their income. People who are teachers or working in other forms of public service can reduce their payments based on their public service salary. After 10 years making payments, the remaining balance on their loans will be forgiven.
Duncan also discussed important developments for states in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which provides $100 billion for education.
July 1 is the deadline for states to apply for the first round of funds from ARRA’s State Fiscal Stabilization Fund. To date, 37 states have received about $25 billion in funding from the stabilization fund. Duncan said he expects all states to apply for the funds and that the department will distribute all of the money from the first round of stabilization funding by mid-July.
Duncan also said he would publish a draft application for the $4.35 billion Race to the Top Fund in July. The $4.35 billion program will be to support states that are making substantial investments in school reforms.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Restoring American Leadership in Higher Education — Webcast
Making higher education more affordable and more accessible was the topic of the May edition of Education News Parents Can Use, the Department’s monthly television show. The hour-long discussion focused on ways to provide all Americans with the opportunity to attend and complete a postsecondary education and included tips for families on how to plan for and finance college. Guests included Bob Shireman, ED’s new deputy under secretary and a leading expert on college access and financial aid; Jamie Merisotis, president and CEO of the Lumina Foundation for Education; Joyce Smith, CEO of the National Association of College Admission Counseling; and Joseph Bell, Upward Bound Director at Howard University. Watch the archived webcast at http://www.connectlive.com/events/ednews/20090519.html.
written by jreeves, posted on May 29, 2009 at 6:17 pm
http://www.edgovblogs.org/duncan/2009/05/restoring-american-leadership-in-higher-education-%E2%80%94-webcast/
written by jreeves, posted on May 29, 2009 at 6:17 pm
http://www.edgovblogs.org/duncan/2009/05/restoring-american-leadership-in-higher-education-%E2%80%94-webcast/
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Online Summer School for Enrichment and Credit Recovery is Now Available to Students Nationwide
Traditionally, students enrolled in summer school hit the books while friends hit the beach. Connections Academy's (http://www.connectionsacademy.com/) new online summer school lets students do both--offering students the opportunity to complete their lessons when, and where, it's most convenient for them.
Connections Academy's new online summer school courses are offered through the accredited, private National Connections Academy (NaCA). Summer sessions start in May and will offer a total of 18 high-school level courses for both credit recovery and enrichment. Students may choose from a variety of courses ranging from Algebra and English to Spanish and Digital Photography. There are also nine levels (Kindergarten through eighth grade) of an innovative course called Summer Smarts, designed to keep students' mind engaged and active during the summer months and minimizing the impact of summer learning loss. The online summer school is open to students in all states in the United States. More information can be found online at www.ConnectionsAcademy.com/national.
Connections Academy is one of the country's leading virtual public school programs, serving over 16,000 students nationwide this year with its accredited online school (http://www.connectionsacademy.com/our-program/free-public-school-program.aspx?utm_source=OnlinePR&utm_medium=PressRelease&utm_campaign=ABCWSJ409) program. National Connections Academy and the online summer school program have the same hallmark qualities as other Connections Academy schools, including dedicated teachers (http://www.connectionsacademy.com/our-program/online-teaching.aspx?utm_source=OnlinePR&utm_medium=PressRelease&utm_campaign=ABCWSJ409), personalized feedback and guidance, detailed daily lessons plans, and a flexible learning schedule.
"Our online summer school is a great way for students to make up credits or to get ahead by taking additional enrichment courses," said Dr. Steven Guttentag, Senior Vice President and Chief Education Officer for Connections Academy. "Because students can learn when they want, it affords them a much more flexible schedule, allowing them to pursue other summer activities like getting a job, spending time with family and friends, and traveling."
Each course delivers a full semester's worth of instruction over an intensive five-week session. In 2009, two online summer school sessions are planned: Session I will run from May 26th to June 26th (with a registration deadline of May 22nd) and Session II will run from July 6th to August 6th (with a registration deadline of July 3rd). Unlike Connections Academy's public school programs, tuition is charged for NaCA's summer school courses.
National Connections Academy's online summer school offers courses for credit recovery and enrichment. Credit recovery courses are designed for high school students who have already taken the course, were not granted credit for the course, and need to make up the course to meet high school graduation requirements. Enrichment courses are designed for students who wish to accelerate their academic career or simply continue their studies over the summer.
Interested high school students are encouraged to discuss credit transfer policies with their schools and inform them about National Connections Academy's online summer school courses prior to registering.
About Connections Academy
Connections Academy is a leading national provider of high-quality, highly accountable virtual public schools in fourteen states operated in partnership with charter schools, school districts, and state departments of education. Connections Academy schools deliver top quality, personalized education for students that combines certified teachers, a proven curriculum, technology tools, and community experiences to create a supportive and successful environment for children who want an individualized approach to education. In Connections Academy's Personalized Performance Learning® approach, students use daily lesson plans and curriculum materials provided by Connections Academy. Teachers develop a learning plan for each student, utilizing a proprietary, web-based Learning Management System to deliver, track, and administer the learning. In 2008-09 Connections Academy serves students in Arizona, California (Southern and Central), Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Minnesota, Missouri (through the Missouri Virtual Instruction Program), Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin. Connections Academy offers grades K through 12, though some schools do not offer all grades. For more information, call 800-382-6010 or visit www.ConnectionsAcademy.com.
Connections Academy's new online summer school courses are offered through the accredited, private National Connections Academy (NaCA). Summer sessions start in May and will offer a total of 18 high-school level courses for both credit recovery and enrichment. Students may choose from a variety of courses ranging from Algebra and English to Spanish and Digital Photography. There are also nine levels (Kindergarten through eighth grade) of an innovative course called Summer Smarts, designed to keep students' mind engaged and active during the summer months and minimizing the impact of summer learning loss. The online summer school is open to students in all states in the United States. More information can be found online at www.ConnectionsAcademy.com/national.
Connections Academy is one of the country's leading virtual public school programs, serving over 16,000 students nationwide this year with its accredited online school (http://www.connectionsacademy.com/our-program/free-public-school-program.aspx?utm_source=OnlinePR&utm_medium=PressRelease&utm_campaign=ABCWSJ409) program. National Connections Academy and the online summer school program have the same hallmark qualities as other Connections Academy schools, including dedicated teachers (http://www.connectionsacademy.com/our-program/online-teaching.aspx?utm_source=OnlinePR&utm_medium=PressRelease&utm_campaign=ABCWSJ409), personalized feedback and guidance, detailed daily lessons plans, and a flexible learning schedule.
"Our online summer school is a great way for students to make up credits or to get ahead by taking additional enrichment courses," said Dr. Steven Guttentag, Senior Vice President and Chief Education Officer for Connections Academy. "Because students can learn when they want, it affords them a much more flexible schedule, allowing them to pursue other summer activities like getting a job, spending time with family and friends, and traveling."
Each course delivers a full semester's worth of instruction over an intensive five-week session. In 2009, two online summer school sessions are planned: Session I will run from May 26th to June 26th (with a registration deadline of May 22nd) and Session II will run from July 6th to August 6th (with a registration deadline of July 3rd). Unlike Connections Academy's public school programs, tuition is charged for NaCA's summer school courses.
National Connections Academy's online summer school offers courses for credit recovery and enrichment. Credit recovery courses are designed for high school students who have already taken the course, were not granted credit for the course, and need to make up the course to meet high school graduation requirements. Enrichment courses are designed for students who wish to accelerate their academic career or simply continue their studies over the summer.
Interested high school students are encouraged to discuss credit transfer policies with their schools and inform them about National Connections Academy's online summer school courses prior to registering.
About Connections Academy
Connections Academy is a leading national provider of high-quality, highly accountable virtual public schools in fourteen states operated in partnership with charter schools, school districts, and state departments of education. Connections Academy schools deliver top quality, personalized education for students that combines certified teachers, a proven curriculum, technology tools, and community experiences to create a supportive and successful environment for children who want an individualized approach to education. In Connections Academy's Personalized Performance Learning® approach, students use daily lesson plans and curriculum materials provided by Connections Academy. Teachers develop a learning plan for each student, utilizing a proprietary, web-based Learning Management System to deliver, track, and administer the learning. In 2008-09 Connections Academy serves students in Arizona, California (Southern and Central), Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Minnesota, Missouri (through the Missouri Virtual Instruction Program), Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin. Connections Academy offers grades K through 12, though some schools do not offer all grades. For more information, call 800-382-6010 or visit www.ConnectionsAcademy.com.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Pell Grant and Perkins Loan amounts
As part of the stimulus bill and 2010 budget, President Barack Obama is increasing Pell Grant and Perkins Loan amounts to alleviate student aid in the midst of escalating college costs and a down economy.
Pell grants will increase $500 in 2009 to $5,350 and $200 in 2010 to $5,550. Pell Grants are awarded to students seeking a bachelor’s degree. Most students demonstrate extreme financial hardship, with over half of the recipients’ families making less than $20,000 a year.
The number of Perkins loans awarded will also be increased due to an additional $4 billion in funding included in the 2010 budget. Perkins Loans are low, fixed-interest (%5) student loans for undergraduate and graduate students with “exceptional” financial need. The loan doesn’t start gathering interest until after the student is out of school. As of the 2009-2010 school years, students are eligible for the following loan amounts:
• Undergraduates can receive up to $5,550 in loans each year up to a lifetime maximum of $27,500.
• Graduates can receive up to $8,000 in loans per year up to a lifetime maximum of $60,000.
Pell grants will increase $500 in 2009 to $5,350 and $200 in 2010 to $5,550. Pell Grants are awarded to students seeking a bachelor’s degree. Most students demonstrate extreme financial hardship, with over half of the recipients’ families making less than $20,000 a year.
The number of Perkins loans awarded will also be increased due to an additional $4 billion in funding included in the 2010 budget. Perkins Loans are low, fixed-interest (%5) student loans for undergraduate and graduate students with “exceptional” financial need. The loan doesn’t start gathering interest until after the student is out of school. As of the 2009-2010 school years, students are eligible for the following loan amounts:
• Undergraduates can receive up to $5,550 in loans each year up to a lifetime maximum of $27,500.
• Graduates can receive up to $8,000 in loans per year up to a lifetime maximum of $60,000.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
US Universities Show Strongest International Online Popularity in 2009 World University Rankings
I don't see Penn State on this list for whatever it's worth.
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For 2009, 4 International Colleges and Universities (http://www.4icu.org/) reports that US Universities' websites are the most popular in the world in terms of online international presence and popularity, with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) leading the pack.
Of the top 200 most popular university websites, 75 belong to US higher education organizations (35 percent), according to results from the latest release of 4icu.org (http://www.4icu.org/) rankings.
Following top ranking MIT, Harvard comes in as the second most popular university website in the world, followed by University of California at Berkley, University of Michigan and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to round out the top five positions.
Of all non-US higher education organizations, only University of Cambridge (UK) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China) are listed in the top ten of the results.
4icu.org (http://www.4icu.org/) Managing Director Fabio Fatuzzo confirms that this year's strong online popularity of US higher education organizations validates the respectable international academic reputation of some American colleges and universities.
"It also represents a competitive advantage for successfully implementing and promoting new education formats and technologies such as distance leaning and iTunes U to an international audience," Fatuzzo says.
The 25 most popular universities featured in the 2009 World University rankings by 4icu.org are (http://www.4icu.org/top200/):
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology: United States
2. Harvard University: United States
3. University of California, Berkley: United States
4. University of Michigan: United States
5. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: United States
6. Purdue University: United States
7. University of Wisconsin-Madison: United States
8. University of Cambridge: United Kingdom
9. Yale University: United States
10. Shanghai Jiao Tong University: China
11. University of Oxford: United Kingdom
12. Indiana University - System: United States
13. National university of Singapore: Singapore
14. Keio University: Japan
15. Peking University: China
16. Moscow State University: Russia
17. Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich: Switzerland
18. Tsinghua University: China
19. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janiero: Brazil
20. Indian Institute of Technology, Madras: India
21. The Australian National Universitiy: Australia
22. Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen: Germany
23. Institut Teknologi Bandung: Indonesia
24. Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne: Switzerland
25. Fudan University: China
*For a full listing of the top 200 universities and colleges in the world (http://www.4icu.org/top200/), visit www.4icu.org/top200/
About 4icu.org:
Based in Australia, 4 International Colleges and Universities is an international higher education search engine and directory which includes 8750 universities and colleges in 200 countries.
The 4icu.org web popularity ranking of world universities is based on three independent web metrics and indicators - page rank, traffic rank, and total link popularity - extracted from three popular search engines (google, Alexa, and Yahoo!).
For additional information, please visit 4icu.org.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For 2009, 4 International Colleges and Universities (http://www.4icu.org/) reports that US Universities' websites are the most popular in the world in terms of online international presence and popularity, with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) leading the pack.
Of the top 200 most popular university websites, 75 belong to US higher education organizations (35 percent), according to results from the latest release of 4icu.org (http://www.4icu.org/) rankings.
Following top ranking MIT, Harvard comes in as the second most popular university website in the world, followed by University of California at Berkley, University of Michigan and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to round out the top five positions.
Of all non-US higher education organizations, only University of Cambridge (UK) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China) are listed in the top ten of the results.
4icu.org (http://www.4icu.org/) Managing Director Fabio Fatuzzo confirms that this year's strong online popularity of US higher education organizations validates the respectable international academic reputation of some American colleges and universities.
"It also represents a competitive advantage for successfully implementing and promoting new education formats and technologies such as distance leaning and iTunes U to an international audience," Fatuzzo says.
The 25 most popular universities featured in the 2009 World University rankings by 4icu.org are (http://www.4icu.org/top200/):
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology: United States
2. Harvard University: United States
3. University of California, Berkley: United States
4. University of Michigan: United States
5. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: United States
6. Purdue University: United States
7. University of Wisconsin-Madison: United States
8. University of Cambridge: United Kingdom
9. Yale University: United States
10. Shanghai Jiao Tong University: China
11. University of Oxford: United Kingdom
12. Indiana University - System: United States
13. National university of Singapore: Singapore
14. Keio University: Japan
15. Peking University: China
16. Moscow State University: Russia
17. Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich: Switzerland
18. Tsinghua University: China
19. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janiero: Brazil
20. Indian Institute of Technology, Madras: India
21. The Australian National Universitiy: Australia
22. Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen: Germany
23. Institut Teknologi Bandung: Indonesia
24. Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne: Switzerland
25. Fudan University: China
*For a full listing of the top 200 universities and colleges in the world (http://www.4icu.org/top200/), visit www.4icu.org/top200/
About 4icu.org:
Based in Australia, 4 International Colleges and Universities is an international higher education search engine and directory which includes 8750 universities and colleges in 200 countries.
The 4icu.org web popularity ranking of world universities is based on three independent web metrics and indicators - page rank, traffic rank, and total link popularity - extracted from three popular search engines (google, Alexa, and Yahoo!).
For additional information, please visit 4icu.org.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
ESTABLISHING A WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL ON WOMEN AND GIRLS
This political science class that I am taking has me visiting www.whitehouse.gov frequently. I've been reading a lot of the executive orders currently approved. Here's one of them that I think is interesting. I hope it is not just more words instead of action. I'm a big lover of words obviously but action really drives it. I thought I would share:
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
____________________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release March 11, 2009
EXECUTIVE ORDER
- - - - - - -
ESTABLISHING A WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL ON WOMEN AND GIRLS
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order as follows:
Section 1. Policy. Over the past generation, our society has made tremendous progress in eradicating barriers to women's success. A record number of women are attending college and graduate school. Women make up a growing share of our workforce, and more women are corporate executives and business owners than ever before, helping boost the U.S. economy and foster U.S. competitiveness around the world. Today, women are serving at the highest levels of all branches of our Government.
Despite this progress, certain inequalities continue to persist. On average, American women continue to earn only about 78 cents for every dollar men make, and women are still significantly underrepresented in the science, engineering, and technology fields. Far too many women lack health insurance, and many are unable to take time off to care for a new baby or an ailing family member. Violence against women and girls remains a global epidemic. The challenge of ensuring equal educational opportunities for women and girls endures. As the current economic crisis has swept across our Nation, women have been seriously affected.
These issues do not concern just women. When jobs do not offer family leave, that affects men who wish to help care for their families. When women earn less than men for the same work, that affects families who have to work harder to make ends meet. When our daughters do not have the same educational and career opportunities as our sons, that affects entire communities, our economy, and our future as a Nation.
The purpose of this order is to establish a coordinated Federal response to issues that particularly impact the lives of women and girls and to ensure that Federal programs and policies address and take into account the distinctive concerns of women and girls, including women of color and those with disabilities.
Sec. 2. White House Council on Women and Girls. There is established within the Executive Office of the President a White House Council on Women and Girls (Council).
(a) Membership of the Council. The Council shall consist of the following members:
(1) the Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison, who shall serve as Chair of the Council;
(2) the Secretary of State;
(3) the Secretary of the Treasury;
(4) the Secretary of Defense;
(5) the Attorney General;
(6) the Secretary of the Interior;
(7) the Secretary of Agriculture;
(8) the Secretary of Commerce;
(9) the Secretary of Labor;
(10) the Secretary of Health and Human Services;
(11) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development;
(12) the Secretary of Transportation;
(13) the Secretary of Energy;
(14) the Secretary of Education;
(15) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs;
(16) the Secretary of Homeland Security;
(17) the Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations;
(18) the United States Trade Representative;
(19) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget;
(20) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency;
(21) the Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers;
(22) the Director of the Office of Personnel Management;
(23) the Administrator of the Small Business Administration;
(24) the Assistant to the President and Director of the Domestic Policy Council;
(25) the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and Director of the National Economic Council; and
(26) the heads of such other executive branch departments, agencies, and offices as the President may, from time to time, designate.
A member of the Council may designate, to perform the Council functions of the member, a senior-level official who is a part of the member's department, agency, or office, and who is a full-time officer or employee of the Federal Government. At the direction of the Chair, the Council may establish subgroups consisting exclusively of Council members or their designees under this section, as appropriate.
(b) Administration of the Council. The Department of Commerce shall provide funding and administrative support for the Council to the extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations. The Chair shall convene regular meetings of the Council, determine its agenda, and direct its work. The Chair shall designate an Executive Director of the Council, who shall coordinate the work of the Council and head any staff assigned to the Council.
Sec. 3. Mission and Functions of the Council. The Council shall work across executive departments and agencies to provide a coordinated Federal response to issues that have a distinct impact on the lives of women and girls, including assisting women-owned businesses to compete internationally and working to increase the participation of women in the science, engineering, and technology workforce, and to ensure that Federal programs and policies adequately take those impacts into account. The Council shall be responsible for providing recommendations to the President on the effects of pending legislation and executive branch policy proposals; for suggesting changes to Federal programs or policies to address issues of special importance to women and girls; for reviewing and recommending changes to policies that have a distinct impact on women in the Federal workforce; and for assisting in the development of legislative and policy proposals of special importance to women and girls. The functions of the Council are advisory only.
Sec. 4. Outreach. Consistent with the objectives set out in this order, the Council, in accordance with applicable law, in addition to regular meetings, shall conduct outreach with representatives of nonprofit organizations, State and local government agencies, elected officials, and other interested persons that will assist with the Council's development of a detailed set of recommendations.
Sec. 5. Federal Interagency Plan. The Council shall, within 150 days of the date of this order, develop and submit to the President a Federal interagency plan with recommendations for interagency action consistent with the goals of this order. The Federal interagency plan shall include an assessment by each member executive department, agency, or office of the status and scope of its efforts to further the progress and advancement of women and girls. Such an assessment shall include a report on the status of any offices or programs that have been created to develop, implement, or monitor targeted initiatives concerning women or girls. The Federal interagency plan shall also include recommendations for issues, programs, or initiatives that should be further evaluated or studied by the Council. The Council shall review and update the Federal interagency plan periodically, as appropriate, and shall present to the President any updated recommendations or findings.
Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) The heads of executive departments and agencies shall assist and provide information to the Council, consistent with applicable law, as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Council. Each executive department and agency shall bear its own expense for participating in the Council.
(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(c) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(d) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
March 11, 2009.
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
____________________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release March 11, 2009
EXECUTIVE ORDER
- - - - - - -
ESTABLISHING A WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL ON WOMEN AND GIRLS
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order as follows:
Section 1. Policy. Over the past generation, our society has made tremendous progress in eradicating barriers to women's success. A record number of women are attending college and graduate school. Women make up a growing share of our workforce, and more women are corporate executives and business owners than ever before, helping boost the U.S. economy and foster U.S. competitiveness around the world. Today, women are serving at the highest levels of all branches of our Government.
Despite this progress, certain inequalities continue to persist. On average, American women continue to earn only about 78 cents for every dollar men make, and women are still significantly underrepresented in the science, engineering, and technology fields. Far too many women lack health insurance, and many are unable to take time off to care for a new baby or an ailing family member. Violence against women and girls remains a global epidemic. The challenge of ensuring equal educational opportunities for women and girls endures. As the current economic crisis has swept across our Nation, women have been seriously affected.
These issues do not concern just women. When jobs do not offer family leave, that affects men who wish to help care for their families. When women earn less than men for the same work, that affects families who have to work harder to make ends meet. When our daughters do not have the same educational and career opportunities as our sons, that affects entire communities, our economy, and our future as a Nation.
The purpose of this order is to establish a coordinated Federal response to issues that particularly impact the lives of women and girls and to ensure that Federal programs and policies address and take into account the distinctive concerns of women and girls, including women of color and those with disabilities.
Sec. 2. White House Council on Women and Girls. There is established within the Executive Office of the President a White House Council on Women and Girls (Council).
(a) Membership of the Council. The Council shall consist of the following members:
(1) the Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison, who shall serve as Chair of the Council;
(2) the Secretary of State;
(3) the Secretary of the Treasury;
(4) the Secretary of Defense;
(5) the Attorney General;
(6) the Secretary of the Interior;
(7) the Secretary of Agriculture;
(8) the Secretary of Commerce;
(9) the Secretary of Labor;
(10) the Secretary of Health and Human Services;
(11) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development;
(12) the Secretary of Transportation;
(13) the Secretary of Energy;
(14) the Secretary of Education;
(15) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs;
(16) the Secretary of Homeland Security;
(17) the Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations;
(18) the United States Trade Representative;
(19) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget;
(20) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency;
(21) the Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers;
(22) the Director of the Office of Personnel Management;
(23) the Administrator of the Small Business Administration;
(24) the Assistant to the President and Director of the Domestic Policy Council;
(25) the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and Director of the National Economic Council; and
(26) the heads of such other executive branch departments, agencies, and offices as the President may, from time to time, designate.
A member of the Council may designate, to perform the Council functions of the member, a senior-level official who is a part of the member's department, agency, or office, and who is a full-time officer or employee of the Federal Government. At the direction of the Chair, the Council may establish subgroups consisting exclusively of Council members or their designees under this section, as appropriate.
(b) Administration of the Council. The Department of Commerce shall provide funding and administrative support for the Council to the extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations. The Chair shall convene regular meetings of the Council, determine its agenda, and direct its work. The Chair shall designate an Executive Director of the Council, who shall coordinate the work of the Council and head any staff assigned to the Council.
Sec. 3. Mission and Functions of the Council. The Council shall work across executive departments and agencies to provide a coordinated Federal response to issues that have a distinct impact on the lives of women and girls, including assisting women-owned businesses to compete internationally and working to increase the participation of women in the science, engineering, and technology workforce, and to ensure that Federal programs and policies adequately take those impacts into account. The Council shall be responsible for providing recommendations to the President on the effects of pending legislation and executive branch policy proposals; for suggesting changes to Federal programs or policies to address issues of special importance to women and girls; for reviewing and recommending changes to policies that have a distinct impact on women in the Federal workforce; and for assisting in the development of legislative and policy proposals of special importance to women and girls. The functions of the Council are advisory only.
Sec. 4. Outreach. Consistent with the objectives set out in this order, the Council, in accordance with applicable law, in addition to regular meetings, shall conduct outreach with representatives of nonprofit organizations, State and local government agencies, elected officials, and other interested persons that will assist with the Council's development of a detailed set of recommendations.
Sec. 5. Federal Interagency Plan. The Council shall, within 150 days of the date of this order, develop and submit to the President a Federal interagency plan with recommendations for interagency action consistent with the goals of this order. The Federal interagency plan shall include an assessment by each member executive department, agency, or office of the status and scope of its efforts to further the progress and advancement of women and girls. Such an assessment shall include a report on the status of any offices or programs that have been created to develop, implement, or monitor targeted initiatives concerning women or girls. The Federal interagency plan shall also include recommendations for issues, programs, or initiatives that should be further evaluated or studied by the Council. The Council shall review and update the Federal interagency plan periodically, as appropriate, and shall present to the President any updated recommendations or findings.
Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) The heads of executive departments and agencies shall assist and provide information to the Council, consistent with applicable law, as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Council. Each executive department and agency shall bear its own expense for participating in the Council.
(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(c) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(d) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
March 11, 2009.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Obama speaks about education plan
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