Press Releases and Statements

Closing the achievement gap requires progress not just for lowest performing students, but for students at all levels

WASHINGTON (May 14, 2013) — Efforts to close the achievement gap have often focused solely on the lowest performing students, and results from national assessments suggest that American schools have made a lot of progress. But there hasn’t been nearly as much progress in moving low-income students and students of color to the highest level of achievement; gaps there have widened significantly in recent years. Certainly, efforts to bring the bottom students up must continue, but the nationwide effort to close long-standing gaps between groups will never succeed without a focus on students at all points on the achievement spectrum.

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New Proposal for Redesigning Financial Aid Outlines Path to a Debt-Free College Guarantee

WASHINGTON (February 14, 2013) — College tuition is skyrocketing, forcing far too many students to take on frightening debt loads. To make matters worse, our financial-aid system is difficult to navigate and burdensome for those who rely on it most. It doesn’t have to be this way.

“Doing Away With Debt: Using Existing Resources to Ensure College Affordability for Low and Middle-Income Families,” a new Education Trust report, proposes a redesign of the federal financial-aid system to increase college completion, reduce student debt, and close the opportunity and attainment gaps that consign so many talented young Americans to lives on the margins of our society. The organization calls for a shared responsibility among the federal government, state governments, institutions of higher education, and students themselves to help low-income and working-class students complete college with no loans and middle-income students to do the same with no-interest loans and affordable, income-based repayments.

New Ed Trust report shows several state accountability systems created through NCLB waivers weaken civil rights commitments of federal law


WASHINGTON (February 7, 2013) — Nearly a year ago, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan began granting waivers from key school accountability provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Through this effort, the Department of Education offered states the opportunity to develop their own systems for accountability in exchange for implementing certain reforms.

Statement from The Education Trust in support of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and others’ complaint against New York City’s specialized high schools admission process

WASHINGTON (November 29, 2012) — Study after study confirms that a rigorous high school curriculum is the surest predictor of success in college. Even so, New York City is denying thousands of Latino and African-American students access to rigorous high schools. In doing so, it’s not just damaging the futures of these young people, but it’s doing long-term damage to the future of what is arguably the world’s most important city.

The Education Trust announces 2012 Dispelling the Myth Award winners

WASHINGTON (November 5, 2012) — On Thursday, Nov. 8, The Education Trust will present the 10th Annual Dispelling the Myth Awards to three public schools from across the country that are educating low-income students and students of color to high academic levels.

Response from The Education Trust to News Coverage of Florida Board of Education's Achievement Goals

The following Letter to the Editor was submitted yesterday to the Sun-Sentinel in South Florida in response to a story it published about the student achievement goals set forth in the Florida Board of Education’s new strategic plan.
 

The Education Trust Welcomes Michael Dannenberg as Director of Higher Education Policy and Education Finance

WASHINGTON (October 9, 2012) — Michael Dannenberg will join The Education Trust as director of higher education policy and education finance on Oct. 10, it was announced today.

Advancing to Completion: Colleges taking responsibility for student success are increasing graduation rates and closing gaps for African-American, Latino students

WASHINGTON (September 20, 2012) — Nationwide, college graduation rates are far too low, particularly among students of color, a fast-growing demographic in America. But two reports released today by The Education Trust show that it doesn’t have to be that way.

Statement by Amy Wilkins, Vice President of The Education Trust, On The End Of The Chicago Teachers Strike

WASHINGTON (September 19, 2012) — Last night, Chicago’s teachers did the right thing by voting to end their strike while the final details of a new employment contract are negotiated. As a result, after nine long days, 350,000 schoolchildren — more than 80 percent of whom come from low-income families — are finally back in the classroom.

Statement by Amy Wilkins, Vice President of The Education Trust, On The Chicago Teachers Strike

WASHINGTON (September 10, 2012) — Overall, the Chicago teachers strike is deeply upsetting. But it is especially tragic for the low-income students who don’t have a moment of academic time to waste. 

This strike needs to end now. And the agreement that ends it needs to be one that creates conditions to boost Chicago’s dismal achievement, particularly among its low-income students. 

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