Hot Topics Archives

Hot Topic:  ED Issues New ARRA Guidance. On September 2, 2009, the Department of Education released new guidance on the use of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Title I, Part !, and IDEA, Parts B and C funds.

Hot Topic: Accessing Education Funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Originally conducted April 7, 2009. Learn about new funding streams in the ARRA and specific ways that schools, districts and states can use them to sustain and enhance Reading Recovery. Resource speakers:

• Jady Johnson, RRCNA Executive Director
• Patricia Johnson, U.S. Department of Education (USDE)
• Brooke Bell, Washington D.C. office of Governor Ted Strickland, Ohio
• Randy Overbeck, Assistant Superintendent, Xenia Community Schools, Ohio
• Mary Jackson, Site Coordinator, Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land, TX.

Some recommendations to get the most out of the teleconference:

1. Download and review the USDE slideshow: “The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Saving and Creating Jobs and Reforming Education,” April 3, 2009. This document has key timelines and other information and will be a resource during the call.
2. Visit the USDE Recovery webpage, which has frequently updated information.

60 minutes in length

Hot Topic: RRCNA Education Elections At-A-Glance. Expect widespread ripple effects as the Obama Administration ramps up and U.S. Senators and Representatives, Governors and senior Hill staff transition to the White House, cabinet departments, K Street lobbying firms and think tanks. This is in addition to the impact of five chief state school officer races, 11 governors, 35 U.S. Senators, the entire U.S. House of Representatives, more than 7300 state legislators and thousands of state and local school board elections. We welcome your thoughts about the impact of the election on your state or region.

You can see a few observations about immediate changes in the 1) Executive Branch, 2) U.S. House, 3) U.S. Senate, 4) State Results – Governors and Chief state school officers, 5) state legislatures, followed by 6) RRCNA resources for cultivating elected officials and other policy makers.

Hot Topic: Reading Recovery: A Guide for Decision Makers enhances communications and advocacy with State and federal lawmakers, superintendents, board members, administrators, and others who play a role in setting spending and policy priorities for education.


Hot Topic: Reading Recovery: A Guide for Governors enhances communications and advocacy with governors, chief state school officers, and other state education policy makers.

Hot Topic: Committee for Education Funding (CEF) features Descubriendo la Lectura.