Biden-Harris Administration Invests in Education for Student Success

The Biden-Harris administration continues its relentless pursuit of transforming America’s public education system, despite repeated attempts by conservative Republicans and controversial rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court to block key initiatives like student debt cancellation. Today, the White House released a comprehensive fact sheet outlining the administration’s bold steps to ensure that all of America’s students have access to the resources they need to succeed.

Since taking office, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have championed education as the cornerstone of American democracy and the foundation of opportunity. Their administration has made the largest federal investment in primary and secondary education in history through the American Rescue Plan (ARP), allocating $130 billion to schools across the country. The White House said the funding has had a transformative effect, particularly in communities hardest hit by the pandemic.

A groundbreaking study from Harvard and Stanford found that schools receiving federal COVID-19 relief funds — ranging from $4,000 to more than $13,000 per student — are already seeing significant improvements in academic performance. Administration officials proclaimed that the long-term economic benefits are expected to be equally impressive, with the investments likely to generate higher future earnings for students, especially those from low-income backgrounds. They said research shows that a 10% increase in per-student spending over a 12-year period increases lifetime wages by 7%.

As students return to classrooms this fall, the administration wants to ensure the momentum continues.

The White House announced a series of new initiatives to accelerate academic success, boost student engagement and address key challenges like absenteeism and literacy. Among the most impactful actions was allocating $149 million to support evidence-based reading programs to ensure all students can read fluently by third grade. Officials said states like Ohio and Montana will use the funding to expand teacher training and strengthen literacy programs, particularly in underserved communities that have historically been left behind.

In addition to boosting literacy, the administration is allocating $30 million to improve comprehensive student assessment systems. According to the White House, these tools will provide educators with critical data on student progress and help guide instruction, driving better outcomes in classrooms across the country. For example, Nebraska plans to use these funds to improve assessment data for English learners, ensuring that teachers have the knowledge necessary to adapt instruction and close achievement gaps.

The Department of Education also released updated guidance for improving schools, which offers states and school districts evidence-based strategies to increase student achievement. The guidance offers solutions to address chronic absenteeism, a major barrier to student success, through early warning systems and improved family engagement. It also emphasizes the importance of small group tutoring, after-school programs, and expanded learning opportunities to help students recover from pandemic-related disruptions.

The draft guidance is open for public comment until October 4, allowing educators and community leaders to provide input before final approval.

The administration also said it is taking decisive action to address chronic absenteeism, a problem that has only worsened since the pandemic. The White House called on state education leaders to create statewide data systems that provide real-time information on absenteeism rates, which will allow schools to identify root causes and implement targeted interventions. States like Alabama and Rhode Island have already implemented innovative systems to monitor attendance and have seen improvements.

To support these efforts, the Biden-Harris administration said it is pushing industry vendors to improve the availability of attendance data, urging them to make this critical information accessible to schools at no additional cost. Officials said the actions are part of a broader effort to ensure every district has the tools to track absenteeism and increase student engagement.

The administration has launched the Student Attendance and Engagement Solutions Network to further engage students in partnership with AmeriCorps and the Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University. Nearly 200 school districts in 43 states have joined the network, representing more than 7 million students. The initiative allows districts to share best practices for improving attendance and engagement, and the administration is encouraging more districts to join.

Recognizing that transportation issues often prevent students from attending school regularly, the administration is also collaborating with the Department of Transportation to improve transportation options for students in underserved areas. This includes expanding safe routes to school, offering free or reduced transportation fares, and supporting creative solutions such as walking and biking buses. Officials said the efforts aim to remove transportation barriers that disproportionately affect low-income families, ensuring that students can get to school safely and on time.

In addition to addressing transportation issues, the administration is issuing joint guidance from the Departments of Education and Agriculture, focused on the role of healthy school meals in supporting regular attendance. Schools will be encouraged to engage parents on the importance of nutritious meals to student success, while also providing them with information on how to access meal programs that support daily attendance and academic growth.

Additionally, the Attendance Champions Challenge was recently launched, inviting young people to come up with creative solutions to improve attendance. Open to students aged 13-19, the challenge seeks innovative ideas to reduce absenteeism and increase participation, focusing on addressing the barriers that keep students out of the classroom.

Since passage of the American Rescue Plan, the administration has allocated more than $70 billion to address the academic, social and emotional needs of students. The funding has supported a record expansion of tutoring programs, summer and after-school learning opportunities, and enhanced mental health resources in schools.

The administration’s emphasis on equity has also allocated $800 million to under-resourced schools in high-poverty areas, ensuring that these communities receive the support they desperately need.