Thirty-seven words

Weekly Update: Thirty-Seven Words

June 23 marks the 40th anniversary of Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Secretary Duncan noted earlier this week that Title IX is only 37 words, yet "has forever altered our high schools and colleges for the better." 

More info:

• Read Secretary Duncan's remarks on the anniversary of Title IX.
• Watch Secretary Duncan, other Cabinet officials, and college and WNBA athletes celebrate Title IX with a game of basketball.

Photo of the Week:

More than 140 of the country’s brightest high school seniors visited Washington this week for the U.S. Presidential Scholars’ National Recognition Week. The annual event brings together and honors the recipients of the nation’s highest honor for graduating seniors, including a Presidential Scholars for the Arts Performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington.

Weekly Highlights:

• Time is running out for Congress to take action to prevent rates on federal student loans from doubling on July 1. President Obama spoke this week from the White House about the importance of keeping college affordable.

• The National Center for Education Statistics shared its findings based on the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress in science. For the tests, students completed hands-on lab experiments and computer tasks. 

• Projects in 25 states and Puerto Rico have been awarded a share of $14 million in TRIO Talent Search grants, aiming to increase access to higher education.

• June 29 is the submission deadline for the Together for Tomorrow School Improvement Challenge for the 2012-2013 school year. The Challenge is an opportunity for schools and districts, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations to join with other partners to improve their neediest schools by raising key measurable student outcomes. More details here.