U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will travel to San Diego, California, on Thursday, Nov. 13, to host a roundtable on college- and career-ready standards at Will Angier Elementary School and participate in the Council of Chief State School Officers’ (CCSSO) annual policy forum.
At 9:20 a.m. PT, Duncan will tour Will Angier Elementary School, hearing about the school’s progress in providing every student with a high-quality education to prepare them for a challenging high school curriculum that will equip them for college and careers.
At 9:35 a.m. PT, Duncan will hold a roundtable discussion with educators about their successes and challenges in transitioning to new standards and assessments. Cindy Marten, superintendent, San Diego Unified School District, will moderate the discussion. A media availability will follow at 10:30 a.m. PT.
At 12:45 p.m. PT, Duncan will give brief remarks at the CCSSO annual policy forum public session, followed by a moderated conversation with Chris Minnich, the organization’s executive director. Duncan will highlight the progress schools, districts and states have made. The annual policy forum of CCSSO, a nationwide membership organization of state superintendents of education, will spotlight state actions to ensure every child has an effective teacher and school leader every year they are in school, new accountability systems that better drive school and district performance, and high-quality assessments that raise the bar for all students.
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 Promise Neighborhoods, School Improvement Grants, Race to the Top, and ConnectED, as well as ED's work to expand access to preschool.
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.