US Department of Education's Comment about PIE

From: OESE <OESE@ed.gov>

To: Ziyuan Yao <yaoziyuan@gmail.com>

Sender: "Brooks, Janice" <Janice.Brooks@ed.gov>

Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2012 10:18:50 -0500

Subject: RE: A Chrome browser extension that may make literacy a solved problem

Thank you for sharing information on your innovative Phonetically Intuitive English (PIE) program, designed to improve English language proficiency for students and adult learners. Your letter was referred to the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education for review and I am pleased to respond.

I have read your letter with interest and appreciate the thought and effort you have put into the PIE program. The U.S. Department of Education (the Department) supports the use of innovative programs to help all students achieve. However, the Department does not have the authority to determine the program of instruction, curriculum, disciplinary policy, or graduation requirements used in states and local schools. State departments of education and local educational agencies (LEAs) are responsible for making these decisions. Therefore, I recommend that you contact your local school district and make them aware of your program and its potential benefits you wish to make via recommendations and/or program improvements.

Thank you for your commitment to public education. We wish you the best of successful with your future endeavors.

Sincerely,

Janice D. Brooks

OESE Correspondence Unit