WASHINGTON, DC –The District of Columbia earned high marks exceeding national norms for its early childhood funding, Pre-Kindergarten and Head Start Programs, state-funded universal preschool access and alignment with common core standards of early childhood learning, according to The State of Preschool 2011, an annual report released by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER).

Washington, DC–The District of Columbia was credited for its significant school reforms, upward trajectory and policy changes implemented under Race to the Top (RttT), according to Race to the Top: What Have We Learned from the States So far?, a national report released today by the Center for American progress (CAP) evaluating selected states currently receiving Race to the Top funding from the US Department of Education.

Washington, DC – The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) today officially announced the 22 awardees of its inaugural School Garden Grant Program, designed to engage students in garden-based learning and integrate nutrition themes into school curriculum in support of the D.C. healthy Schools Act.

Representing both District of Columbia Public Schools and District Public Charter Schools and selected for after a competitive application process for awards up to $10,000, the 22 OSSE School Garden Grant Recipients are:

In order to receive a grant award under Parts B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to support the provision of early intervention and special education services to children with disabilities, each state must complete an annual grant application.  To ensure an opportunity for the public to provide input, this application must be posted for 60 calendar days and open for public comment for 30 days within the 60 day period.