U.S. Secretary of Education will visit Delaware tomorrow to highlight the progress that the state’s schools and students have made through the hard work and leadership of parents, teachers, principals, and district and state leaders. His day will culminate in a speech about the importance of local and school-level leadership in continuing efforts to improve our nation’s schools, as well as a conversation with Gov. Jack Markell and Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons.
Duncan, Markell and Delaware Secretary of Education Mark Murphy will begin the day with classroom visits at the Howard High School of Technology, where they will also join teachers for a roundtable discussion on how teaching and learning is changing during the transition to higher standards and how that has contributed to schools’ and students’ success in Delaware. During the event, Duncan will also talk about how Congress needs to replace the outdated Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) – known as No Child Left Behind – with a strong law that helps states like Delaware continue to see progress in preparing all students for college and careers. A new White House report shows that Delaware could lose $2 million next year and $25 million over the next five years in federal funding for low-income students under the current ESEA proposals being considered by Congress. A media availability will follow the event at the high school.
Following that, Duncan will deliver remarks during a luncheon at the Rotary Club of Wilmington, where he will highlight the progress Delaware’s schools have made and the importance of partnering with and supporting educators and schools to help continue that momentum. A media availability will follow.
At the final event, Duncan will visit Delaware Technical Community College-Stanton Campus for a roundtable discussion with students and business leaders, along with Markell, Carper and Coons. The Secretary will highlight President Obama’s America’s College Promise proposal to make community college free — as Delaware has done for a decade through its SEED scholarship. He will also talk about Delaware’s leadership on college access and affordability and the importance of programs that prepare students for careers after graduation.