Biden-Harris 2024 Education Agenda: A Comprehensive Approach to Improving Student Achievement

At any given time, a president’s administration manages numerous policies, programs, and budgets that collectively form their education agenda. Much of this work goes unnoticed by the public due to the sheer volume and complexity of initiatives. This lack of visibility can lead to the misconception that the administration is inactive in addressing students' educational crises. Critics often claim that nothing is being done, proposing solutions they believe are absent, even when those measures are already in place. This explainer aims to clarify President Biden’s 2024 education agenda, highlighting the administration's detailed and strategic plan for the year.

In January 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration unveiled its ambitious Improving Student Achievement Agenda, a comprehensive strategy aimed at boosting academic performance for every child in America. Recognizing the crucial role of education in shaping the future of children and the nation, this agenda employs various tools, including accountability, reporting, grants, and technical assistance. It focuses on three evidence-based strategies: increasing student attendance, providing high-dosage tutoring, and expanding summer learning and extended or after-school learning time.

The Importance of Education in the 21st Century

Education is the cornerstone of a thriving society, equipping children with the skills and knowledge needed to compete in the 21st century.

The Biden-Harris Administration's focus on improving student achievement underscores a commitment to ensuring that all children, regardless of their background, have access to quality education that prepares them for future success.

The agenda builds on the foundations laid by the American Rescue Plan, which provided the most significant one-time investment in education in U.S. history to help schools reopen and recover from the pandemic.

Key Strategies for Improving Student Achievement

Increasing Student Attendance

Chronic absenteeism has emerged as a significant challenge after the COVID-19 pandemic. During the 2021-2022 school year, the chronic absenteeism rate reached approximately 31%, contributing substantially to declines in student performance. Research by the Council of Economic Advisers indicates that absenteeism can account for up to 27% of declines in math test scores and 45% in reading scores.

To combat this, the Administration emphasizes low-cost informational interventions, such as sending texts to parents about their children’s missed school days, which can reduce absenteeism by up to 17%. Additionally, targeted parent and family engagement strategies, including home visits and adopting early warning intervention systems, can significantly increase student attendance. By addressing the root causes of absenteeism and implementing tailored strategies, schools can ensure that more students attend school regularly, leading to better academic outcomes.

Providing High-Dosage Tutoring

High-dosage tutoring is a powerful tool for accelerating student learning. Well-designed and well-implemented tutoring programs can enable students to gain as much as 1.5 years of achievement in math. Effective tutoring programs should provide at least three 30-minute weekly sessions, occur in small groups, be conducted during the school day, utilize well-trained tutors, and align with an evidence-based, structured curriculum.

School districts nationwide, including Chicago, Baltimore, and Greensboro, have successfully leveraged American Rescue Plan funds to scale high-dosage tutoring programs with promising results. When implemented effectively, these programs boost student learning and reduce teachers' burdens, allowing them to focus on other essential teaching activities.

Increasing Summer Learning and Extended or Afterschool Learning Time

Extending learning time through high-quality after-school programs, longer school days, and summer learning programs can significantly enhance student achievement. Studies have shown that consistent participation in after-school enrichment programs can add about four months of learning to the academic year. Extending the school day from 6 ½ to 8 hours can improve test scores by 11% to 24% for students in low-income areas. Additionally, summer programs that last at least five weeks and provide three hours of academic instruction per day can add two months of learning in math and one month in reading.

Nearly half of the school districts in the United States have invested ARP funds in expanded summer learning programs, demonstrating the positive impact these initiatives can have on student performance.

Actions and Commitments to Support the Agenda

To ensure the effective adoption of these strategies, the Administration is taking several actions and making specific commitments:

• Publishing States’ Specific Actions: The Administration urges states and districts to make quantifiable commitments to these strategies, such as increasing the number of home visits and providing high-dosage tutoring to more students.
  
  
• Using Data and School Improvement Requirements: The Department of Education will work with states to improve school performance by monitoring the implementation of evidence-based strategies and tracking progress in closing pandemic-related achievement gaps. States are encouraged to use chronic absenteeism as an indicator in their accountability systems and to provide tailored support for students struggling with attendance.
  
  
• Providing Technical Assistance: The Department will offer technical assistance through Comprehensive Centers, Regional Education Labs, and other partners to support the implementation of improvement strategies in schools.
  
  
• Continuing Use of Pandemic Relief Funds: States can continue using ARP funds for academic support, such as high-dosage tutoring, into the 2024-2025 school year. The Department will also advise states on using other federal funding, including Title I and Title IV funds, to support these initiatives.
  
  
• Supporting Academic Achievement Through Grant Programs: Pending appropriations, the Department plans to run several grant competitions in 2024 to support academic achievement strategies. These grants could provide hundreds of millions of dollars for high-dosage tutoring, extended learning time, and other evidence-based approaches.
  
  
• National Partnership for Student Success (NPSS): The Administration calls on colleges and universities to use at least 15% of their federal work-study funds for college students employed in NPSS roles, helping to provide additional support in schools and promoting education as a future profession.

Funding Details

The agenda includes significant financial investments to support these strategies:

• American Rescue Plan (ARP): $130 billion to reopen schools, hire more teachers, provide tutoring, expand summer and after-school programs, and improve school infrastructure.
  
  
• Education Innovation and Research Program: $90 million in 2023 to strengthen math, literacy, and science instruction.
  
  
• Full-Service Community Schools Grants: $120 million in additional funding since the Administration took office to improve mental health and academic success.
  
  
• Comprehensive Literacy State Development and Innovative Approaches to Literacy Grants: $48 million in 2023 for literacy interventions.
  
  
• 21st Century Community Learning Centers: Over $1 billion yearly for after-school programs.
  
  
• School-Based Mental Health Professionals and Services: More than $2 billion for mental health services, including Bipartisan Safer Communities Act funding.
  
  
• Title I: $18.4 billion, an increase of $1.9 billion, to support schools in low-income communities.
  
  
• IDEA State Grants: $14.2 billion, an increase of $1.3 billion, to provide special education services for students with disabilities.

Evidence of Impact

The strategies outlined in the agenda are supported by robust evidence demonstrating their effectiveness in improving student achievement:

• Attendance Interventions: Studies show that reducing absenteeism can significantly improve test scores and academic performance.
  
  
• High-Dosage Tutoring: Research indicates that high-dosage tutoring can lead to substantial learning gains, particularly in math.
  
  
• Extended Learning Programs: Evidence supports the positive impact of extended school days, high-quality afterschool programs, and summer learning on student achievement.

The Biden-Harris 2024 education agenda is a comprehensive and evidence-based approach to improving student achievement nationwide. By increasing attendance, providing high-dosage tutoring, and expanding learning time, the Administration aims to address the academic setbacks caused by the pandemic and promote long-term educational success.

With substantial financial investments and a commitment to supporting states and districts in implementing these strategies, the agenda represents a significant step forward in ensuring that all children receive the quality education they deserve.