Press Release
☷FACT SHEET U S Department of Education Releases 2023 Update to Equity Action Plan Outlines New Commitments to Advance Equity
U.S. Department of Education ( By Press Release office)
Feb 15,2024
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The Department of Education in the U . S . just released its 2023 Update to its Equity Action Plan , in line with the Biden - Harris Administration ' s commitment to equity . This plan is part of the Department ' s efforts to implement the President ' s Executive Order on Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities . The Department believes that every student and community should have access to a quality education in a safe and inclusive environment . They are working to address disparities in education faced by underserved students and communities . The Department has identified five areas of focus for its 2023 Equity Action Plan and will continue to engage the public throughout the year . These areas include improving college access and affordability for underserved students and ensuring equitable resources for learning recovery . We want to address the unfairness faced by people who have been in the justice system by giving them more opportunities for education . Our goal is to create a more equal society by supporting education during and after incarceration . We have initiatives in place to improve the well - being of incarcerated individuals and help them successfully reintegrate into society . We also want to make it easier for them to pursue further education , find employment , and reduce the chances of them getting involved in crime again . We are working with educational institutions , correctional agencies , accrediting agencies , and community organizations to make this happen . We also want to promote equality in career and technical education and create more pathways to well - paying jobs . We ' re focusing on reducing segregation in high school career and technical education programs based on gender , race , and ethnicity . Another priority for us is increasing mental health resources , especially in underserved communities . The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act has provided historic legislation and funding for this . We want to tackle the mental health crisis among young people by supporting local educational agencies in areas with high poverty rates . Our priorities include training school personnel to support students ' mental health , increasing the number of mental health professionals working with students , and securing funding for school health services , including mental health services , through the Medicaid program . Since releasing our first Equity Action Plan in 2022 , we have been actively working to promote equity . For example , we have provided guidance to colleges and universities on lawful admissions practices and programs to ensure diversity after a Supreme Court ruling . We have also organized a National Summit on Educational Opportunity and published a report on strategies for increasing diversity and educational opportunity . Additionally , we have awarded over $40 million in grants to programs focused on helping low - income students , first - generation students , and students with disabilities access college . We gave more help to people with student loans , including those with disabilities , and canceled over $127 billion in debt for 3 . 6 million Americans . We also introduced a new repayment plan that ' s really affordable and has already helped 4 million borrowers . We ' re working to improve college completion rates for students of color and low - income students . We gave money to states to hire more mental health professionals in schools . We reminded schools to address discrimination and released resources for creating inclusive environments . Our agenda is all about making education fair for everyone and helping students succeed . You can find updates and more information at whitehouse . gov/equity and performance . gov/equity . Follow #GovEquity and #GovDelivers on social media for more stories .
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