Presidential Document2021-25190
American Education Week, 2021
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 17, 2021
Signed
November 12, 2021
Issuing agencies
Executive Office of the President
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 219 (Wednesday, November 17, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 17, 2021)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 64057-64058]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-25190]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 219 / Wednesday, November 17, 2021 /
Presidential Documents
[[Page 64057]]
Proclamation 10306 of November 12, 2021
American Education Week, 2021
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
I have always believed that our children are the kite
strings that hold our national ambitions aloft--when we
invest in their education, we are investing in the
future of our Nation. During American Education Week,
which marks its 100th anniversary this year, we
celebrate the unparalleled power of education to lift
our country to new heights, and we recommit ourselves
to ensuring that every child in America receives a
quality education.
When America made 12 years of public education standard
more than a century ago, it gave us the best-educated,
best-prepared workforce in the world--setting us on a
path to lead the world for the better part of the 20th
century. Not only is quality, equitable education the
engine of innovation and the fuel of a thriving
economy--it is also key to preserving our democracy and
advancing American ideals. But as the First Lady so
often says, any country that out-educates us will out-
compete us. The truth is that we are no longer keeping
pace with other countries when it comes to investing in
the next generation.
While America once led the world in educational
achievement, the Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development now ranks us 35th out of 37 major
economies when it comes to investing in early childhood
education and care. Only about half of American 3- and
4-year-olds are enrolled in early childhood education--
while in Germany, France, the UK, Latvia, and other
nations, that number is more than 90 percent. According
to one study from the Pell Institute, we now rank 12th
among advanced economies when it comes to the
percentage of our young people who have attained a
post-high-school degree.
Simply put--we cannot be competitive in the 21st
century global economy if we do not accelerate degree
attainment. It is more important than ever that we
invest in education, particularly as schools and
communities are still fighting to overcome the
challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. This virus has
called upon the extraordinary resilience of our
educators, school staff, students, and families, whose
dedicated efforts over the last 19 months have helped
keep millions of young people on a path to fulfillment
and success. Now, we must match their determination
with bold action to ensure that our children--and our
Nation--are well-positioned to lead the world in the
years ahead.
To that end, my Administration provided resources
through the American Rescue Plan that are helping
schools and colleges safely return to in-person
instruction and meet the academic, social, emotional,
and financial needs of students most affected by the
pandemic. My budget proposal for fiscal year 2022 more
than doubles funding for schools that serve low-income
students; invests in support for students with
disabilities; increases Federal funding for community
schools tenfold; and works towards my Administration's
goal of doubling the number of school counselors,
social workers, psychologists, and nurses so that
teachers can focus on teaching. Finally, my
Administration's Build Back Better framework would make
transformational investments in our education system--
including by making 2
[[Page 64058]]
years of high-quality pre-school available to every
child in America. We will also make significant
investments in education beyond high school: We will
increase Pell Grants to help students from lower-income
families attend college and invest in Historically
Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving
Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and
other Minority-Serving Institutions to help ensure that
young people from every neighborhood have a fair shot
at the good-paying jobs of the future.
In celebrating the centennial anniversary of American
Education Week, let us acknowledge education's power to
transform lives, uplift communities, and strengthen our
democratic society. Let us honor all those who nurture
our students and inspire the future leaders of our
great Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of
the United States of America, by virtue of the
authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws
of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 14
through November 20, 2021, as American Education Week.
I invite all Americans to join in expressing gratitude,
now and throughout the year, for the educators and
staff of our Nation's schools and colleges, and I
encourage the observation of this week through
appropriate activities, events, and programs designed
to showcase engaging, high-quality education, celebrate
the joy of learning, and prepare students of every
background for success.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twelfth day of November, in the year of our Lord two
thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and forty-
sixth.
<GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT>
(Presidential Sig.)
[FR Doc. 2021-25190
Filed 11-16-21; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F2-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on November 17, 2021.
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