U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will travel to Los Angeles Tuesday where he will spotlight the economic benefits to America of developing excellence in education – from cradle to career.
At 3:20 p.m. PT, Secretary Duncan will deliver the keynote address to the White House Early Learning Summit, being held at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. He will emphasize the value to our nation of supporting early childhood education. Research continues to show the economic and social benefits for children and our economy when we get all our children off to a strong start. A press availability will follow.
Also, earlier in the day at 11 a.m. PT, Libby Doggett, deputy assistant secretary for policy and early learning at the U.S. Department of Education, will participate on the “Quality in Early Learning Environments” panel, which will discuss how to support parents and teachers in providing quality early experiences for our youngest children.
The summit, whose theme is “Children: LA’s Greatest Investment,” is being co-hosted by Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP). It will examine early learning quality and public policy. Experts in education, philanthropy, government and the business community will discuss President Obama’s early learning agenda and efforts in Los Angeles County to support early learning.
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.
The trip to California continues Secretary Duncan’s Partners in Progress tour, which highlights the partnership among the federal government, state officials, district and school leaders, and local educators that has helped support much of the progress celebrated in these visits.
In the past year, America’s students have made historic achievements: the highest high school graduation rate in the nation’s history, sharp cuts in dropout rates and increases in college enrollment, especially for groups that in the past have lagged significantly. These accomplishments are a testament to the hard work of the nation’s teachers, principals, and students — and their families.