Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor announced that Tampa was selected as one of only 27 communities nationwide to participate in ConnectHOME, which promotes locally tailored solutions to help bridge the gap in digital access for working-class households by addressing the barriers they have to high-speed broadband. Read more »

Today the U.S. House of Representatives will consider the harmful Republican education overhaul that undermines the commitment to a quality education for all students across America. Republicans propose to slash overall education funding, including an unconscionable diversion of funds from working-class students to wealthier school districts -- perpetrating a reverse Robin Hood on the most disadvantaged children. Indeed, Hillsborough County Public Schools stands to lose $3.6 million in Title I funding this year alone, according to a White House report. Overall, the Republican bill proposes to slash an estimated $437 million from Florida public schools over the coming years. Read more »

Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor strongly criticized the House Republican education overhaul, which would cut support for Florida students by a whopping $437 million through FY 2021. Read more »

Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced that Hillsborough County Public Schools is one of 26 nationwide finalists for the U.S. Education Department’s $129 million Investing in Innovation (i3) 2014 competition aimed at developing innovative approaches to improve student achievement and replicating effective strategies across the country. Hillsborough County is scheduled to receive… Read more »

With last week’s U.S. Census report revealing that Tampa Bay ranks last among the country’s 25 largest metro areas when it comes to median household income, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) said today that investments in transportation and related job training will help provide a pipeline to higher wage employment. “The Tampa Bay community must stay focused on… Read more »

Strategies to combat rising college costs and crushing college debt plaguing today’s students are imperative to building an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy. Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) hailed the passage of bipartisan legislation to strengthen financial counseling to ensure families receive the information they need to better understand their college financing options and reduce the burden of student debt. Read more »

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa, St. Petersburg) today hosted an official presentation to the U.S. Library of Congress of JFK in Tampa: The 50th Anniversary on the birthday of President Kennedy. Read more »

Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) urged that the bill to reauthorize the federal charter school program include guidelines to require and enforce conflict of interest standards among charter schools that receive federal assistance. Read more »

TAMPA -- “The variety and diversity reflects the talent we have here in our hometown, and I couldn’t be more proud,” U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) said before announcing the winners of her 2014 Congressional Art Contest. The announcement was made yesterday during a reception for students, families and art teachers, hosted by the Tampa Museum of Art in downtown Tampa “The students proved… Read more »

Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) highlighted significant progress for Head Start students and parents in Pinellas County at a visit to the Connie Momarro Head Start Center in St. Petersburg. The bipartisan budget agreement recently passed by Congress and signed by President Obama restores funding for Head Start students across the country, and includes an increase of $1 billion over the sequester level and $612 million over the 2013 enacted level. The progress is especially significant for Pinellas County Head Start that has faced numerous challenges over the past few years. Read more »