U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will visit Hawaii Sunday-Monday, where he will recognize the state's progress in education, as well as learn about issues of concern to students, parents, educators and policymakers. The Hawaii visit will mark the 50th state Duncan has visited as Secretary since taking office in 2009. Former Secretary Richard Riley was the last Education Secretary to travel to Hawaii, in 1994.
Upon arriving in Hawaii, Duncan will hold a panel discussion with military families at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam to discuss issues facing military-connected students, particularly those related to their high mobility. [RSVP is required for access to Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam. Details below.]
On Monday, Duncan will visit Ka Waihona o ka Na'auao Public Charter School in Waianae. There, he will participate in a traditional Hawaiian greeting ceremony and hold a roundtable discussion, learning how the school is using culture-based education to address educational disparities affecting young Native Hawaiians.
To commemorate the visit to his 50th state and highlight one of the Obama Administration's key education reform efforts, also on Monday, Duncan will join Gov. Neil Abercrombie and state Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi to tour Waipahu High School in Waipahu. The school is one of many in the state to see progress through the innovative use of Hawaii's $75 million Race to the Top grant to better prepare students for college and careers. At Waipahu High, Secretary Duncan will visit several classrooms to interact with students and teachers and eat lunch at the student-run café.
Following are Secretary Duncan's public events: