U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will give the opening keynote remarks at the IDEA Leadership Conference on Monday, July 29 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Washington, D.C. Duncan will discuss expanding preschool programs, furthering the K-12 reform agenda, and preparing all students to graduate from high school, college and career ready. He will be joined by Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services Michael Yudin, who will discuss the importance of inclusion, equity and opportunity for infants, toddlers, and children and youth with disabilities; and Director of the Office of Special Education Programs Melody Musgrove, who will talk about collaboration across the Department to support improving results for children with disabilities.
President Obama, in an effort to help all children begin school on a level playing field, put forward in his 2014 budget request an historic new investment in early learning that would make preschool available to all four-year-olds from low- to moderate-income families; expand evidence-based, home-visiting services for vulnerable families and children; and support quality improvements through a new Early Head Start-Child Care partnership.
The 2013 IDEA Leadership Conference supports better outcomes for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities and their families by providing opportunities for key leaders and partners to interact with Department staff and Office of Special Education Programs-funded technical assistance providers.