Omnibus appropriations bill finalized the FY 2012 federal budget

Happy New Year everyone! Well, we are fully into the 2012. We are sad that some persons and students did not make into 2012. Our blessings go out to the families. As expected, there was a flurry of activity in Washington at the end of the year. For example, Congress passed an omnibus appropriations bill that finalized the FY 2012 federal budget. The Department of Education also announced its Round III Race to the Top awards, along with Promise Neighborhoods grants and the 23 highest rated projects in the 2011 Investing in Innovation (i3) Fund competition secured their required private funding, qualifying them to receive their i3 grants. Our research indicates that much of ED's energy in 2012 will be devoted to monitoring the progress of the various RTTT grantees, applying pressure where needed and help where requested and managing the ongoing NCLB waivers process.