A Proclamation on American Education and learning 7 days, 2021

I have always believed that our little ones are the kite strings that hold our nationwide ambitions aloft — when we spend in their schooling, we are investing in the potential of our Nation. For the duration of American Instruction 7 days, which marks its 100th anniversary this yr, we rejoice the unparalleled ability of training to raise our state to new heights, and we recommit ourselves to making certain that every child in America gets a excellent schooling.
When The united states designed 12 several years of general public schooling typical extra than a century in the past, it gave us the ideal-educated, ideal-ready workforce in the environment — location us on a path to direct the globe for the better section of the 20th century. Not only is high-quality, equitable instruction the motor of innovation and the fuel of a thriving economic system — it is also essential to preserving our democracy and advancing American beliefs. But as the First Girl so normally states, any place that out-educates us will out-contend us. The reality is that we are no for a longer time keeping pace with other international locations when it will come to investing in the next generation.
Whilst The us as soon as led the earth in instructional achievement, the Firm for Financial Cooperation and Improvement now ranks us 35th out of 37 key economies when it comes to investing in early childhood instruction and treatment. Only about half of American 3- and 4-12 months-olds are enrolled in early childhood schooling — whilst in Germany, France, the United kingdom, Latvia, and other nations, that variety is far more than 90 p.c. According to a single review from the Pell Institute, we now rank 12th amongst highly developed economies when it will come to the share of our young people who have attained a article-high-faculty diploma.
Only place — we are unable to be aggressive in the 21st century world wide overall economy if we do not speed up degree attainment. It is extra significant than at any time that we devote in education and learning, especially as faculties and communities are nonetheless fighting to triumph over the issues of the COVID-19 pandemic. This virus has referred to as on the amazing resilience of our educators, university team, students, and people, whose focused initiatives over the last 19 months have assisted preserve tens of millions of young folks on a path to success and success. Now, we must match their willpower with bold action to make certain that our small children — and our Country — are properly-positioned to guide the entire world in the yrs ahead.
To that close, my Administration provided assets via the American Rescue Program that are supporting faculties and colleges properly return to in-human being instruction and fulfill the educational, social, psychological, and financial demands of college students most affected by the pandemic. My budget proposal for fiscal yr 2022 extra than doubles funding for educational institutions that provide very low-money college students invests in aid for college students with disabilities improves Federal funding for neighborhood faculties tenfold and functions towards my Administration’s aim of doubling the variety of faculty counselors, social workers, psychologists, and nurses so that teachers can target on educating. At last, my Administration’s Establish Back Improved framework would make transformational investments in our education system — like by creating 2 a long time of significant-high quality pre-college available to every child in America. We will also make substantial investments in instruction beyond substantial school: We will raise Pell Grants to assistance college students from decrease-earnings households attend university and invest in Historically Black Faculties and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Establishments, Tribal Faculties and Universities, and other Minority-Serving Establishments to enable make certain that young men and women from each neighborhood have a reasonable shot at the good-spending work of the future.
In celebrating the centennial anniversary of American Instruction Week, enable us accept education’s electric power to transform lives, uplift communities, and strengthen our democratic society. Let us honor all people who nurture our college students and encourage the long run leaders of our fantastic Nation.
NOW, Hence, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of The usa, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 14 via November 20, 2021, as American Education and learning Week. I invite all People to sign up for in expressing gratitude, now and all through the yr, for the educators and staff of our Nation’s faculties and faculties, and I really encourage the observation of this week as a result of ideal actions, situations, and applications created to showcase engaging, higher-quality education and learning, celebrate the pleasure of learning, and put together learners of each individual qualifications for results.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto established my hand this twelfth day of November, in the calendar year of our Lord two thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-sixth.
JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.