On Capitol Hill, Addressing the State of the Child
From Guest Blogger Lisa Fine
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill usually talk about children in a specific context, such as education or health policy, but a hearing today—the first of four—focused on "The State of the American Child" in a big-picture way.
The Senate education committee's subcommittee on children and families is receiving testimony from a variety of experts who will examine numerous aspects of children's lives: their health, education, and family and community life.
At today's hearing, Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., who is subcommittee chairman, said he was planning to craft and introduce legislation to create a national commission on children to regularly and closely examine the needs of American families and identify solutions.
"There's a reason our kids get report cards in school," said Dodd, who is retiring after this year. "They help us clearly identify how we're doing. Only by assessing honestly our progress—celebrating our successes and acknowledging our failures—can we improve it."
At the standing-room-only event, Dodd and the subcommittee heard from Alma Powell, chair of America's Promise Alliance, in Washington; Elaine Zimmerman, executive director of Connecticut Commission on Children, in Hamden, Conn.; Jack Lund, president and chief executive officer of the YMCA of Greater New York, in New York City, and Harry Holzer, an economist at Georgetown University.
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill usually talk about children in a specific context, such as education or health policy, but a hearing today—the first of four—focused on "The State of the American Child" in a big-picture way.
The Senate education committee's subcommittee on children and families is receiving testimony from a variety of experts who will examine numerous aspects of children's lives: their health, education, and family and community life.
At today's hearing, Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., who is subcommittee chairman, said he was planning to craft and introduce legislation to create a national commission on children to regularly and closely examine the needs of American families and identify solutions.
"There's a reason our kids get report cards in school," said Dodd, who is retiring after this year. "They help us clearly identify how we're doing. Only by assessing honestly our progress—celebrating our successes and acknowledging our failures—can we improve it."
At the standing-room-only event, Dodd and the subcommittee heard from Alma Powell, chair of America's Promise Alliance, in Washington; Elaine Zimmerman, executive director of Connecticut Commission on Children, in Hamden, Conn.; Jack Lund, president and chief executive officer of the YMCA of Greater New York, in New York City, and Harry Holzer, an economist at Georgetown University.
Race to Top Guru Weiss Moving On Up
Joanne Weiss will become U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan's chief of staff at the end of the month, a department spokesperson confirmed today.
Weiss, the department's Race to the Top director, who has earned high marks for how she's handled this high-profile competition, will replace Margot Rogers, who came to the department alongside Duncan at the beginning of the administration. No word yet on where Rogers, who previously worked for the Gates Foundation, is landing.
The department spokesperson said: "Margot has been an amazing leader, a trusted confidant, and an invaluable
Weiss, the department's Race to the Top director, who has earned high marks for how she's handled this high-profile competition, will replace Margot Rogers, who came to the department alongside Duncan at the beginning of the administration. No word yet on where Rogers, who previously worked for the Gates Foundation, is landing.
The department spokesperson said: "Margot has been an amazing leader, a trusted confidant, and an invaluable