Federal Early Learning Updates

New Leadership in the Office of Early Learning

Libby Doggett has been named the new deputy assistant secretary for policy and early learning at the U.S. Department of Education. Jacqueline Jones, the first appointee to this position, left the department in December 2012.

Doggett will work with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to administer the Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge. She will also help promote President Obama’s Pre-K for All proposals.

Doggett previously served as the director of the Home Visiting Campaign at Pew Charitable Trusts, and had directed Pre-K Now, a 10-year initiative funded largely by Pew. She served in the Department of Education in the mid-1990s as special assistant to the director of special education and executive director of the Federal Interagency Coordinating Council.

The Office of Early Learning is housed in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. Will Doggett be part of policy decisions affecting the early grades? And will she be responsible for kindergarten? This grade often seems to fall through the cracks. We think Doggett is a smart pick and wish her well in her new position, which she is expected to start on Aug. 26.

Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge

Also in federal early education news, the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services announced additional funds for six Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge grantees: California, Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, Oregon and Wisconsin. Totaling $89,213,863, these supplemental grants were provided to states that did not originally receive the full amount they requested. The new dollars must be used to improve states’ Tiered Quality Rating and Improvement Systems. A third RTT-ELC grant competition will begin within several weeks.

Race to the Top – District

Also this week, the Department of Education announced the second Race to the Top – District competition. Nearly $120 million will be available to assist school districts in their efforts to personalize learning. Applicants can earn competitive priority points for establishing partnerships to offer services that help meet students’ academic, social and emotional needs. Applications are due Oct. 3.