WAIVING AWAY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE ACCOUNTABILITY?: State NCLB Waiver Proposals Threaten to Weaken Accountability for High School Graduation Rates: In September 2011, with the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)—currently known as the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act—stalled in the U.S. Congress, President Obama outlined a plan to provide states flexibility within specific provisions of the law in exchange for state-led reform efforts to close achievement gaps, evaluate teachers and principals, promote rigorous accountability, and ensure that all students are on track to graduate ready for college and a career.

STATE OF THE UNION: Obama’s State of the Union to Focus on Rebuilding an Economy Where “Hard Work Pays Off and Responsibility Is Rewarded”: On Tuesday, January 24, at 9:00 p.m., EST, President Barack Obama will give his 2012 State of the Union address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress. The State of the Union address allows the president to report on the condition of the nation, but it also gives him a national stage on which to outline his legislative agenda for the coming year.

STATE OF THE UNION BINGO: Alliance Brings Back Its Popular Bingo Cards for 2012 State of the Union Address: President Obama previewed some of the themes he intends to raise in his 2012 State of the Union address, but will he mention education reform? Specifically, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), currently known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB), is ten years old and is long overdue for a revamp. Both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives are considering legislation to rewrite NCLB, but few people expect a final bill to reach the president’s desk in 2012.

STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESSES: Governors Focus on Education Reform as Key to Improving Economic Futures for Individuals and State Economies:The start of a new year means governors around the country are delivering state of the state addresses, during which they report on the condition of their state, preview budget plans, and outline legislative agendas. According to a recent report from the National Governors Association and National Association of State Budget Officers, states’ fiscal situations have rebounded from the depths of the recent recession, but state revenues and spending figures remain below their prerecession levels.

THE DIGITAL LEARNING IMPERATIVE: New Alliance Report Shows How Digital Learning Connects Technology and Teaching to Meet Today’s Educational Challenges: Digital learning can connect middle and high school students with better teaching and learning experiences while also addressing three major challenges facing the nation’s education system—access to good teaching, tight budgets, and boosting student achievement—according to a new report from the Alliance for Excellent Education.

Thirty-three States and DC Committed to Celebrate Digital Learning Day: States Pledge Support for National Awareness Campaign Highlighting Technology’s Role in School Reform and Strengthening Instructional Practices: To date, two-thirds, or thirty-three, of the fifty states, plus the District of Columbia, have signed up as partners in support of the first-ever national Digital Learning Day taking place on Wednesday, February 1, 2012. Spearheaded by the Alliance for Excellent Education, Digital Learning Day is a national awareness campaign designed to celebrate innovative teachers and highlight instructional practices that strengthen teaching and personalize learning for all students.

Webinar Showcases Promise of Digital Learning, Offers Ideas for National Digital Learning Day: On January 6, the Alliance held a webinar to highlight some successful schools and to provide more information about how individuals can get involved in Digital Learning Day and learn more about how technology can impact student learning.

CONGRESS PASSES BILL FUNDING U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: Education Funding Cut By $100 Million, But Bill Restores Funding for Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Program: On December 23, 2011, President Obama signed a Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 spending bill that will provide $45.29 billion in discretionary funding for the U.S. Department of Education, a decrease of $100 million compared to FY 2011 and $3.5 billion less than the amount Obama requested in his FY 2012 budget. The bill is a part of an omnibus spending bill that includes nine regular appropriations bills and totals $915 billion in discretionary spending.

GOING TO SCALE: Comprehensive Birth-Through-Grade-Twelve State Literacy Plans: On January 5, the Alliance for Excellent Education held a webinar featuring representatives from two states that have created literacy plans to meet students’ needs from birth through grade twelve.

HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN KLINE RELEASES DRAFT LEGISLATION ON ACCOUNTABILITY AND TEACHER EFFECTIVENESS: On January 6, U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce Chairman John Kline (R-MN) released two draft pieces of legislation on accountability and teacher effectiveness as part of the committee’s work to overhaul the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), currently known as the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. The two bills, the Student Success Act and the Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teachers Act, follow three other bills the committee has passed in its piecemeal approach to rewriting NCLB.