Libby Doggett, deputy assistant secretary for policy and early learning at the U.S. Department of Education, will host a town hall on early learning education and the role of high-quality Head Start programs on Friday, Sept. 13, in Phoenix, Ariz. During the town hall, sponsored by the Arizona Head Start Association, Doggett will highlight President Obama’s early learning proposal, Preschool for All. Linda Smith, deputy assistant secretary and inter-departmental liaison for early childhood development for the Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will join Doggett.
Doggett is one of several senior officials who have held events in conjunction with the Department’s fourth annual back-to-school bus tour, "Strong Start, Bright Future." U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan kicked off the bus tour in New Mexico on Monday, Sept. 9, and will conclude the Southwest tour this Friday in Chula Vista, Calif., located outside of San Diego. In addition to Phoenix, other stops included Tucson, Tempe, Scottsdale and Yuma, Ariz.; Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Socorro and Columbus, N.M.; El Paso, Texas, and Chula Vista. During the tour, Secretary Duncan and senior officials visited classrooms and early learning centers; held roundtables with students, parents, education stakeholders and community members; consulted with tribal leaders; and hosted town halls with military parents and members of the Hispanic community. The tour focused on Preschool for All, ConnectED, RESPECT, Career and Technical Education (CTE), and college affordability.
To read about the bus tour, visit www.ed.gov/bustour.