Secretary Duncan will travel to Columbus, Ohio on Monday to discuss achievements in rural education and the importance of high-quality education to prepare all students for a successful future. Secretary Duncan will host two roundtable discussions and speak at a forum at the Hilton Polaris Hotel in Columbus.
Secretary Duncan will host a roundtable at 10:55 a.m. ET, with teachers from rural communities, where he will hear about the unique challenges these teachers face and the ways they are collaborating and sharing best practices to ensure their students are ready for college and careers. A media availability will follow the roundtable.
Next, at 12:30 p.m. ET, Secretary Duncan will deliver remarks and participate in a panel discussion including a Q-and-A session at the Rural Education National Forum co-hosted by Battelle for Kids and the Ohio Department of Education, in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Education. The panel will include a teacher, student and rural entrepreneur/business leader. Duncan will talk about the importance of equipping and preparing rural educators to transition to new standards and assessments, and he will highlight the need for initiatives like President Obama's ConnectED proposal to equip more schools with high-speed broadband.
Later, at 1:45 p.m. ET, Secretary Duncan will host a roundtable with rural superintendents from the Ohio Appalachian Collaborative and hear about how they are working together to prepare their teachers and schools to help students become college- and career-ready.
The Obama Administration strongly believes that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, and education is crucial to the economic strength and security of our nation and communities. The Department of Education's work is focused on ensuring all students receive an education that prepares them for success in life and their career, through programs including Race to the Top, ConnectED, School Improvement Grants, as well as the Department's work to expand access to preschool and make college more affordable.