Deputy Secretary of Education Jim Shelton will participate in a summit aimed at understanding and promoting social and emotional development in youth on Monday, May 5, in St. Paul, Minn. St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman will attend the summit. The two-day summit—"Social Emotional Learning: Understanding It to Improve It"—will bring together superintendents; mayors; philanthropy, faith and non-profit leaders and stakeholders; and youth from schools and community-based organizations.
Brenda Girton-Mitchell, director of the U.S. Department of Education's Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, also will participate in the summit. On Monday afternoon, she will lead a youth panel, followed by a question-and-answer session. The panel will consist of high school and university youth leaders.
The summit is part of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the U.S. Department of Education and the National League of Cities (NLC) that outlines a plan to strengthen partnerships among federal and local governments, schools, families and other organizations. The MOU seeks to increase the visibility and understanding of the role that mayors can play in leading educational change in their communities. As part of the MOU, the U.S. Department of Education and NLC agreed to participate in community conversations hosted by mayors in cities across the country. The conversations include topics such as early childhood education, afterschool learning and postsecondary success. They also focus on ways that cities are working to close the achievement gap and increase student outcomes.