U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will again join leaders from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Education International (EI), together with U.S.-based partners—National Education Association (NEA), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), National Board for Professional Teaching Standards(NBPTS), Asia Society and WNET—to host the second International Summit on the Teaching Profession in New York City, March 14 – 15.
This year’s theme, “Preparing Teachers and Developing School Leaders,” was chosen based on feedback from last year’s participants and will build on the conversation started in 2011. The two-day event will aim to explore three topics: developing school leaders, preparing teachers for the delivery of 21st century skills, and preparing teachers to work and succeed where they are most needed. A background paper, prepared by the OECD, will be available in advance of the summit to highlight practices from around the world in each of these areas.
Participants will consist of education ministers, national union leaders and accomplished teachers from 24 countries and regions with high performing and rapidly improving education systems (based on the OECD Program for International Student Assessment). Confirmed countries and regions include: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the People’s Republic of China, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The March Summit is part of an ongoing international dialogue on best practices in both teaching and learning. In the weeks following the Summit, Asia Society will lead host organizations in publishing a summary paper to publicly document insights shared and lessons learned.
Summit discussions will be closed to press with the exception of the opening and closing sessions. A list of media opportunities follows. Further details will be shared next week in an updated advisory.
Media planning to attend the open press portions of the Summit, should RSVP to [email protected] by 12 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 13.