U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will participate in a moderated conversation (“fireside chat”) with Chris Minnich, executive director of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), during the Council’s Legislative Conference on Monday, March 17, in Washington, D.C. Duncan will discuss the president’s education priorities and his administration’s commitment to taking action on behalf of the nation’s students: expanding access to high-quality preschool; extending Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) flexibility; expanding broadband access in schools through the ConnectEd initiative; and providing funding for professional development for teachers.
The conference will take place March 16-18 and will focus on emerging policy issues and their impact on states. It will bring together senior leaders from state departments of education, business partners from the education community and senior leadership from national education philanthropies. CCSSO is a nationwide, nonpartisan and nonprofit membership organization of state superintendents of education. The organization is committed to reforming public education in four strategic areas: educator workforce; information systems and research; next generation learners; and standards, assessment and accountability.