America's educators have lost a leader, and I have lost a friend and mentor. Whether in Philadelphia, San Francisco, or Washington, Arlene Ackerman cared deeply about America's urban schools and students. As a young superintendent in Chicago, I looked up to Arlene and learned a lot from her tenacity, courage and commitment to children.

Today the U.S. Department of Education released state-specific reports for 12 Race to the Top grantees, detailing their progress on transforming education at the local level.

Learning doesn’t stop when the last bell rings at school. When students bring work home, it is a great time for parents to play a role in their child’s education. Homework has many benefits, such as providing extra time for research or practice, helping students develop study skills and teaching time management skills.

The U.S. Department of Education announced today the release of student performance data in reading and math for all schools in the country for school years 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11. This is the first time the Department is releasing school-level state assessment data. The data are being released as part of the Department’s ongoing transparency efforts.