By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
The Biden-Harris administration is continuing its relentless pursuit to transform America’s public education system, despite repeated attempts by conservative Republicans and controversial rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court to block key initiatives like student debt cancellation. On Wednesday, Sept. 4, the White House released a comprehensive fact sheet outlining the administration’s bold actions to ensure that every student in the country has access to the resources they need to succeed.
Since taking office, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have championed education as the bedrock of America’s democracy and the foundation for opportunity. Their administration has delivered the largest-ever federal investment in K-12 education through the American Rescue Plan (ARP), allocating $130 billion to schools nationwide. The White House said the funding has had a transformative effect, particularly in communities hit hardest by the pandemic.
A groundbreaking study by Harvard and Stanford revealed that schools receiving federal COVID-19 relief funds—ranging from $4,000 to more than $13,000 per student—are already seeing significant improvements in academic performance. Administration officials proclaimed that the long-term economic benefits are expected to be just as impressive, with the investments likely to lead to higher future earnings for students, especially those from low-income backgrounds. They said research shows that a 10% increase in per-student spending over a 12-year period boosts lifetime wages by 7%.
As students return to the classroom this fall, the administration wants to ensure the momentum continues. The White House announced a series of new initiatives to accelerate academic success, bolster student engagement, and tackle key challenges like absenteeism and literacy. Among the most impactful of these actions is the allocation of $149 million to support evidence-based reading programs to ensure all students can read fluently by third grade. Officials said states like Ohio and Montana will use the funding to expand teacher training and strengthen literacy programs, particularly in underserved communities that have been historically left behind.
In addition to bolstering literacy, the administration is awarding $30 million to improve comprehensive student assessment systems. According to the White House, these tools will provide educators with critical data on student progress and help inform instruction, driving better classroom outcomes nationwide. For instance, Nebraska plans to use these funds to improve assessment data for English learners, ensuring that teachers have the insights needed to tailor instruction and close achievement gaps.
The Department of Education also issued updated school improvement guidance, providing states and school districts with evidence-based strategies to increase student achievement. The guidance offers solutions for tackling chronic absenteeism, a significant barrier to student success, through early warning systems and better family engagement. It also emphasizes the importance of small-group tutoring, after-school programs, and expanded learning opportunities to help students recover from pandemic-related disruptions. The draft guidance is open for public comment until October 4, 2024, allowing educators and community leaders to provide input before it is finalized.
The administration also said it’s taking decisive action to address chronic absenteeism, an issue that has only worsened since the pandemic. The White House called on state education leaders to create statewide data systems that provide real-time information on absenteeism rates, allowing schools to identify root causes and implement targeted interventions. States like Alabama and Rhode Island have already implemented innovative systems to monitor attendance and have seen improvements.
To support these efforts, the Biden-Harris administration said it’s pressing industry vendors to improve the availability of attendance data, urging them to make this critical information accessible to schools without additional costs. Officials said the actions are part of a larger push to ensure that every district has the tools to track absenteeism and boost student engagement.
The administration has launched the Student Attendance and Engagement Solutions Network to further engage students in partnership with AmeriCorps and Johns Hopkins University’s Everyone Graduates Center. Nearly 200 school districts across 43 states have joined the network, representing over 7 million students. The initiative allows districts to share best practices for improving attendance and engagement, and the administration is encouraging more districts to join.
Recognizing that transportation challenges often prevent students from attending school regularly, the administration is also collaborating with the Department of Transportation to improve transit options for students in underserved areas. This includes expanding safe routes to school, offering free or reduced transit fares, and supporting creative solutions like walking and bike buses. Officials asserted that the efforts aim to remove transportation barriers that disproportionately affect low-income families, ensuring that students can get to school safely and on time.
In addition to addressing transportation issues, the administration is releasing joint guidance from the Departments of Education and Agriculture, focused on the role of healthy school meals in supporting regular attendance. Schools will be encouraged to engage parents on the importance of nutritious meals for student success while providing information on how to access meal programs that support everyday attendance and academic growth.
Further, a newly launched Attendance Champions Challenge invites young people to propose creative solutions for improving attendance. Open to students aged 13-19, the challenge seeks innovative ideas for reducing absenteeism and increasing engagement, focusing on addressing the barriers that keep students out of the classroom.
Since the passage of the American Rescue Plan, the administration has allocated more than $70 billion toward addressing students’ academic, social, and emotional needs. The funding has supported a record expansion of tutoring programs, summer and afterschool learning opportunities, and improved school mental health resources. The administration’s emphasis on equity has also driven $800 million to under resourced schools in high-poverty areas, ensuring these communities receive the support they desperately need.
