U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will visit E.M. Stanton School in Philadelphia tomorrow to highlight the power of partnerships in supporting teachers and students and the importance of investing in our nation’s schools. The event will include a classroom tour with U.S. Representative Chaka Fattah and other leaders, as well as a roundtable discussion with teachers, parents and community partners who have rallied around the school to invest money, time and resources to keep the school open and to provide a number of opportunities for students to grow and learn. Duncan will highlight the need for increased investments in education to ensure that all children receive a world-class education, as well as the importance of reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) – also known as No Child Left Behind.
During the roundtable discussion, Duncan will be joined by E.M. Stanton Principal Stacey Burnley, acting Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera and School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Dr. William Hite. A press availability will follow, which will also include Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter.
The Obama Administration’s commitment to equity in education underlies nearly every significant activity of the Department of Education. To maintain and accelerate students’ progress, the Administration is calling for an overhaul of ESEA with a law that not only ensures students are prepared for college, careers and life, but also delivers on the promise of equity and real opportunity for every child. Duncan has called on Congress to create a bipartisan law that gives teachers and principals the resources they need, expands high-quality preschool for families, and supports schools and districts in creating innovative new solutions to problems that translate into better outcomes for students.