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Key Policy Letters Signed by the Education Secretary or Deputy SecretaryThese letters are key policy letters signed by the Education Secretary or Deputy Secretary and are provided by the Executive Secretariat, Office of the Secretary.
September 28, 2020—Secretary's letter to Chief State School Officers regarding equitable services under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
September 3, 2020—Secretary's letter to Chief State School Officers regarding administering summative assessments during the 2020-21 school year
September 20, 2018—Secretary's letter to Chief State School Officers regarding recent federally declared disasters
September 20, 2017—Secretary's letter to Chief State School Officers regarding recent federally declared disasters
March 13, 2017—Secretary's letter to Chief State School Officers about State templates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
February 10, 2017—Secretary's letter to Chief State School Officers about State plans under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
November 22, 2016—Secretary's letter to Governors and Chief State School Officers about eliminating the use of corporal punishment in schools
November 18, 2016—Letter about advancing diversity and inclusion in higher education
November 16, 2016—Letter about correctional education and reentry support programs
September 16, 2016—Secretary King's back to school message to principals and teachers
September 8, 2016—Letter to Chief State School Officers and Superintendents about School Resource Officers and school discipline
July 13, 2016—Letter to Chief State School Officers regarding using federal funds to improve student outcomes in the humanities
June 23, 2016—Letter to Chief State School Officers regarding stakeholder engagement during implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act
December 31, 2015—Letter to educational leaders regarding discrimination and harassment based on race, religion, or national origin
December 10, 2015—Letter to Chief State School Officers regarding the Every Student Succeeds Act
December 16, 2014—Letter to Chief State School Officers sharing information and resources to guard against infectious diseases
July 7, 2014—Letter to Chief State School Officers announcing new State Educator Equity Plans and resources to assist with plans
March 7, 2014—Letter from Secretary Arne Duncan to Governors announcing the FAFSA Completion Initiative
January 18, 2013—Letter to school superintendents for the start of 2013
September 20, 2012—Letter to the education community encouraging more student participation in the School Breakfast Program
July 24, 2012—Letter to college presidents regarding college cost shopping sheet
July 20, 2012—Memo to Chief State School Officers clarifying the impact of sequestration on four accounts with advance funding
April 24, 2012—Letter to superintendents sharing information and asking for assistance in meeting the needs of military-connected school children
September 23, 2011—Letter to Governors and Chief State School Officers regarding the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund data collection and reporting requirements
August 12, 2011—Letter to governors regarding the obligation of remaining funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
March 11, 2011—Letter to Chief State School Officers regarding the Qualified Zone Academy Bonds and the Qualified School Construction Bonds
March 1, 2011—Letter to superintendents regarding attendance policies and practices for military-connected families
December 16, 2010—Letter to governors and Chief State School Officers regarding technical assistance on addressing bullying
September 7, 2010—Joint letter with Department of Education Inspector General Kathleen S. Tighe to Chief State School Officers about reporting fraud, waste, and abuse of funds
September 2, 2010—Letter to governors announcing the Race to the Top Assessment program grant awards
August 24, 2010 —Letter to governors announcing Race to the Top Phase 2 grantees
August 18, 2010—Letter to Chief State School Officers regarding the School Improvement Grant program
June 11, 2010—Letter to Chief State School Officers regarding the Qualified School Construction Bonds and Qualified Zone Academy Bonds
April 5, 2010—Letter to governors regarding the fiscal challenges many states are facing relative to their education budgets
March 4, 2010—Letter announcing Race to the Top finalists (sent to Governors whose states applied for Phase I funding)
December 3, 2009—Letter to Chief State School Officers regarding the final requirements and the State application package for the School Improvement Grants program
August 31, 2009—Open letter requesting reviewers for the Race to the Top Fund competitive grant program
August 26, 2009—Letter to Chief State School Officers regarding fiscal year 2009 School Improvement Grants
July 31, 2009—Letter to Chief State School Officers regarding the use of seclusion and restraint techniques in schools
April 1, 2009—Letter to Chief State School Officers regarding Title I regulations issued in October 2008 and proposed changes
April 1, 2009—Letter to Members of Congress regarding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding and guidance
April 1, 2009—Letter to Governors regarding the administration of the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund
December 7, 2007—Letter to Chief State School Officers regarding the opportunity to participate in the Department's growth model pilot for the 2007-08 school year
October 30, 2007—Letter to School Officials announcing availability of brochures about balancing student privacy and school safety
February 7, 2007—Letter to Chief State School Officers providing an update on implementation of the assessment and accountability requirements of Title I
October 18, 2006—Letter to Chief State School Officers and others regarding the Conference on School Safety convened by the White House in October 2006
October 11, 2006—Letter to Chief State School Officers reminding of the opportunity to participate in the Department's growth model pilot for the 2006-07 school year
March 2006—Letters regarding student loan forgiveness available for certain full-time secondary school teachers:
version sent to Local Educational Agencies regarding teachers employed in public schools
version sent to Private School Associations regarding teachers employed in nonprofit private schools
February 21, 2006—Letter to Chief State School Officers on the assessment requirements of NCLB and the growth model pilot project
January 17, 2006—Letter to heads of Federal Departments and Agencies asking for support of a new federal government-wide effort to assist the nation's charter schools
December 14, 2005—Letter to Chief State School Officers extending to states for a second year the flexibility to develop modified achievement standards and assessments
November 21, 2005—Letter to Chief State School Officers regarding a pilot project on growth models for measuring school accountability
September 7, 2005—Letter to Chief State School Officers regarding Hurricane Katrina and discussing some of the major areas in which flexibility and resources are available
January 28, 2005—Letter to Chief State School Officers regarding requests for extensions for making liquidations in state-administered programs.
October 6, 2004—Letter to schools and education groups describing lessons learned from the Beslan school incident that might be used to protect U.S. schools
May 2004—Letter to educators regarding the National Moment of Remembrance on Memorial Day, May 31, 2004
February 24, 2004—Letter to Honorable Edward M. Kennedy and others in response to inquiry regarding the Department's implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act
February 23, 2004—Letter to Honorable Susan Collins in response to her letter following up on the diploma mill summit
February 20, 2004—Letter to Chief State School Officers on No Child Left Behind providing new guidance on additional flexibility concerning limited English proficient students
January 2004—Letter to Superintendents advising of the establishment of the No Child Left Behind Superintendents Hotline
October 9, 2003—Letter to Honorable Susan Collins in response to her inquiry regarding diploma mills
July 2, 2003—Letter to Chief State School Officers regarding release of student information to military recruiters
May, 2003—Letter to educators regarding the National Moment of Remembrance on Memorial Day, May 26, 2003
September 16, 2002—Letter to Governors regarding the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB)
May 17, 2002—Letter to educators regarding the National Moment of Remembrance on Memorial Day, May 27, 2002
February 15, 2002—Letter to Chief State School Officers highlighting key provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and listing early deadline dates for implementation
February 11, 2002—Letter to chief state school officers regarding actions taken by the Department to address the needs of those affected by September 11 terrorist attacks
February 7, 2002—Letter to Superintendents regarding No Child Left Behind
December 12, 2001—Letter to Dr. J. Michael Mullen regarding GEAR UP and other postsecondary programs the Department of Education administers
June 14, 2001—Letter to Honorable Betsy Brand regarding high school reform and its place in the President's education agenda
May 15, 2001—Letter to Senator Patty Murray regarding education reform and class size reduction