Jacqueline Jones, senior advisor on Early Learning to the U.S. Secretary of Education will visit the Erikson Institute in Chicago on Thursday, Sept. 8 in advance of Duncan’s visit the following day.
Jones will observe a professional development session with early childhood educators, and hold a roundtable discussion with teacher coaches and instructors from the Institute to learn about their work in early learning as part of their Investing in Innovation (i3) grant. The Erikson Institute is a graduate school specializing in child development, which works to improve the care and education of children age birth to eight.
The Institute is a recipient of a $5 million i3 grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The grant supports their work in preparing families and early childhood professionals with the tools they need to help young children reach their full potential. The i3 program provides funding to support evidence-based, innovative education practices that improve student achievement and growth, help close the achievement gap, decrease dropout rates and increase graduation and college completion rates.
On Friday, Duncan will visit Carl Schurz High School where he will visit a classroom and engage in a panel discussion with local leaders, including Gov. Pat Quinn, State Sen. Kimberly Lightford, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago public schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard and state labor officials, to discuss and celebrate the progressive education reform happening across Illinois.
Details on Duncan’s visit will follow in a separate advisory, along with information about additional Chicago events with Department staff on Friday, Sept. 9.