Coalition for Student Achievement Calls for Bold Action on Stimulus Education Reforms
Advocates Unite to Ensure Federal Funds Achieve Dramatic Improvements for America's
Students
As states and districts begin receiving billions in federal stimulus funding for education, a broad
cross-section of organizations dedicated to transforming America's schools is joining together to
support reform. The newly created Coalition for Student Achievement is calling on federal, state,
and local leaders to make sure the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides more than
just a short-term economic boost, but also achieves long-term, dramatic gains in student
achievement.
In a letter sent today to Secretary Duncan, the Coalition, which represents more than 30 diverse
education, business, civil rights, and philanthropic organizations and continues to grow,
emphasized that "speed and efficiency must not trump reform and improvement." The Coalition
pledged its commitment to working with the Obama administration, states, and school districts to
strengthen America's schools, improve teacher effectiveness, boost standards, and better prepare
young people for college and work. The coalition also pledged to closely monitor state and
district progress on allocating the funds and implementing the reforms. (A copy of the Coalition's
letter to Secretary Duncan is available at www.coalitionforstudentachievement.org.)
"President Barack Obama and his administration have shown bold leadership in making clear
that meaningful economic recovery must include significant improvements in education," said
Arthur J. Rothkopf, senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "We have come
together to work with federal, state, and local leaders to help ensure that the reforms connected to
the education stimulus dollars are real. We urge the president and Secretary Duncan to use their
authority to ensure states and districts use this opportunity to foster lasting reforms that will
fundamentally change our public educati