John King, senior advisor delegated duties of deputy secretary of education, will give remarks at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) event on Dec. 11 in Washington, D.C. He will discuss the new education law—Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)—signed into law this morning by President Obama; the critical need for education equity; and the value of community partnerships in helping students to become successful in the classroom, in their careers and throughout their lives.
The theme of the two-day event, which began today, is “The Path Forward: Improving Opportunity for African-American Students.” Events will focus on strategies for closing academic achievement gaps and will bring together educators, members of Congress, more than 150 business leaders, and civil rights advocates and policy makers. The event will be webcast live on the Chamber’s website.
The Obama Administration’s commitment to equity in education underlies nearly every significant activity of the Department, from the President’s My Brother’s Keeper Initiative to Department programs such as the School Improvement Grants and Promise Neighborhoods, among others.