Blue print reform

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A Blueprint for Reform
The Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
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A Blueprint for ReformThe Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act

United States Department of Education
March 2010

U.S. Department of Education Arne Duncan Secretary of Education Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development Carmel Martin Assistant Secretary March 2010

This publication is in the public domain. Authorization to reproduce it in whole or in part is granted. Whilepermission to reprint this publication is not necessary, the citation should be: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, ESEA Blueprint for Reform, Washington, D.C., 2010.

To obtain copies of this report: Write to ED Pubs, Education Publications Center, U.S. Department of Education, P.O. Box 22207, Alexandria, VA 22304. Or fax your request to703-605-6794. Or e-mail your request to edpubs@inet.ed.gov. Or call in your request toll free to 1-877-433-7827 (1-877-4-ED-PUBS). Those who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a teletypewriter (TTY) should call 1-877-576-7734. If 877 service is not available in your area, call 1-800-872-5327 (1-800-USA-LEARN). Or order online at http://edpubs.gov. This publication is also available atthe Department’s Web site at http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/blueprint/. On request, this publication is available in alternate formats, such as Braille, large print or computer diskette. For more information, contact the Department’s Alternate Format Center at 202-260-0852 or 202-260-0818.

President Barack Obama

Every child in America deserves a world-class education. Today, morethan ever, a world-class education is a prerequisite for success. America was once the best educated nation in the world. A generation ago, we led all nations in college completion, but today, 10 countries have passed us. It is not that their students are smarter than ours. It is that these countries are being smarter about how to educate their students. And the countries that out-educate us todaywill out-compete us tomorrow. We must do better. Together, we must achieve a new goal, that by 2020, the United States will once again lead the world in college completion. We must raise the expectations for our students, for our schools, and for ourselves – this must be a national priority. We must ensure that every student graduates from high school well prepared for college and a career. Aworld-class education is also a moral imperative – the key to securing a more equal, fair, and just society. We will not remain true to our highest ideals unless we do a far better job of educating each one of our sons and daughters. We will not be able to keep the American promise of equal opportunity if we fail to provide a world-class education to every child. This effort will require the skillsand talents of many, but especially our nation’s teachers, principals, and other school leaders. Our goal must be to have a great teacher in every classroom and a great principal in every school. We know that from the moment students enter a school, the most important factor in their success is not the color of their skin or the income of their parents – it is the teacher standing at the front ofthe classroom. To ensure the success of our children, we must do better to recruit, develop, support, retain, and reward outstanding teachers in America’s classrooms. Reforming our schools to deliver a world-class education is a shared responsibility – the task cannot be shouldered by our nation’s teachers and principals alone. We must foster school environments where teachers have the time to...