Federal education policy

This week the USED published the draft version of the ARRA application. It’s critical to look at the required assurances because they give us a very clear glimpse into the way Congress is thinking about the reauthorization. If you get a chance, scope out the documents and pay particular attention to the teacher quality issues.

This has been coming for a long time, now its worth tracking houw our national economic health impacts our economic attractiveness.

“We have lent a huge amount of money to the U.S. Of course we are concerned about the safety of our assets,” Wen said. “To be honest, I am definitely a little worried.”China surpassed Japan last year as the largest foreign holder of Treasury bonds. Any indication that it intends to cease those purchases — or, worse, stage a sell-off — could drive up the cost of borrowing for the U.S. government, as well as send mortgage rates higher for millions of Americans.That reality, experts say, has given China more leverage in its dealings with Washington, with some seeing Wen’s comments yesterday as amounting to economic saber-rattling. The words came only days after a confrontation in international waters between a U.S. military ship and five Chinese vessels that sparked recriminations on both sides of the Pacific. Chinese officials have also signaled alarm over a growing “protectionist” sentiment in the U.S. Congress that could further endanger its exports, now in sharp decline as world demand spirals during the global economic crisis.

China Worried About U.S. Debt – washingtonpost.com