As part of its Excellent Educators for All Initiative--designed to ensure that all students have equal access to a high-quality education--the U.S. Department of Education today announced the approval of nine states' plans to ensure equitable access to excellent educators: Idaho, Illinois, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Utah and Wyoming.
"All parents understand that strong teaching is fundamental to strong opportunities for their children. We as a country should treat that opportunity as a right that every family has--regardless of race, ethnicity or national origin, zip code, wealth, or first language," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.