Group calls on Secretary Duncan to enact detailed guidance on how states can use new money

Washington, DC — April 16, 2009 — The bipartisan public policy organization Hope Street Group announced today it was joining the newly-formed Coalition for Student Achievement in its efforts to track and support education reforms called for in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The Coalition’s first action appears in the form of a letter sent today (.pdf) to Education Secretary Arne Duncan urging his department to provide "stronger, clearer direction to states and local education leaders about how to meet the assurances and demonstrate measurable outcomes."

"We must take advantage of this unique opportunity to change the landscape in public education by holding ourselves accountable for implementing reforms," said Jocelyn Pickford, Hope Street Group Education Director.  "The ARRA funding is keeping education on the national radar screen, and groups like the Coalition are rising to the challenge of doing the difficult work to embed reform into funded initiatives."

The CSA is offering its assistance to Secretary Duncan and to policymakers at all levels of government who are committed to enacting reforms.

"It is critical that we continue to come together like this to find and share solutions," said Monique Nadeau, Hope Street Group Executive Director. "This is not a problem that can be solved only by educators, or only by policymakers. All of us have to take responsibility, and act on collaborative solutions."

# # #

Hope Street Group is a public policy non-profit dedicated to building an Opportunity Economy, where everyone has the opportunity to realize the American Dream, and where our nation prospers as a result.  It convenes business, political and civic leaders to build ‘Coalitions of the Reasonable’ around tough issues, connects young entrepreneurs and other new voices with policy makers who can act on their suggestions, and uses its Economic Opportunity Index to identify obstacles to success.