Event Dates: Dec. 14-19, 2016
This week, U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. will deliver a speech in Washington, D.C. at the Center for American progress, and visit schools and colleges in Phoenix, Arizona; Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico; and New Haven and New Britain, Connecticut as part of the final leg of the Education Department’s “Opportunity Across America” tour, which began in January 2016. In his speech and at the subsequent stops, King will reiterate his belief in education as a pillar for democracy and economic security, and will lay out a vision for the future of educational opportunity across America. He will also continue to highlight the opportunities provided by the Every Student Succeeds Act and spotlight the educational progress made over the last eight years under the Obama Administration:
- High school graduation rates are at an all-time high (83 percent), and the dropout rate has decreased—with all groups making progress, and students of color closing gaps
- The nation has a new education law, the Every Student Succeeds Act, which offers the chance to reclaim the promise of an excellent, well-rounded education for every student
- More states have implemented their own unique plans for education reform and school turnarounds
- More individuals now have access to programs to offset the rising costs of higher education, including expanded Pell Grants and more manageable student debt
- More students and families have access to the information they need to make the best choices for postsecondary education—from easier and now earlier financial aid to the next generation of college transparency with tools such as College Scorecard
- Overall, in the 2015-16 budget year, states increased their investments in preschool programs by nearly $767 million or 12 percent over the 2014-15 fiscal year. And, from 2009 to 2015, states enrolled 48,000 more 4-year-olds in state preschool
- The Department’s Office for Civil Rights has resolved in excess of 66,000 cases—more than any other administration
King also will discuss the good work being done in schools and communities across the country, and encourage states to continue building on the progress our nation has made to deliver on the promise of a world-class education for every child.
As part of the Opportunity Across America Tour, King has crisscrossed the country this year promoting equity and excellence at every level of education to ensure that all children have the opportunity to succeed; supporting and lifting up the teaching profession; and continuing the Department’s focus on returning America to the top of the rankings in college completion by ensuring more students earn an affordable degree with real value. He has visited El Paso and Houston, Texas; Washington, D.C.; Orlando, Florida; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Wilmington, Delaware; Charlottesville, Virginia; Bristol, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Memphis, Tennessee; Harvest, Alabama; Little Rock, Arkansas; Indianola, Mississippi; and Monroe, Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana.
STOP ONE—Washington, D.C.
WHO:
U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr.
WHAT:
Remarks at the Center for American Progress (Secretary King will highlight educational progress over the last eight years under the Obama Administration and encourage education leaders to continue that progress.)
WHEN:
10 a.m. ET, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016
WHERE:
Center for American Progress
1333 H St., N.W., 10th Floor
Washington, D.C.
STOP TWO—Phoenix, Arizona
WHO:
U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr.
WHAT:
Higher education roundtable at Phoenix College (Secretary King will participate in a higher education roundtable that focuses on improving equity of opportunity for all students.)
WHEN:
11:45 a.m. MT, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016
WHERE:
Phoenix College
1202 W. Thomas Rd.
Phoenix, Arizona
STOP THREE—Phoenix, Arizona
WHO:
U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr.
WHAT:
Roundtable discussion (Secretary King will hold a discussion with local high school students and Latino civil rights community members on the intersections of education, civil rights and immigration.)
WHEN:
Roundtable: 2:15 p.m. MT, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016
Media availability: 3:20 p.m. MT, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016
WHERE:
Arizona State University (downtown campus)
Student Center- San Carlos Room
522 N.Central Ave.
Phoenix, Arizona
STOP FOUR— Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico
WHO:
U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr.
New Mexico Secretary of Education Hanna Skandera
WHAT:
Classroom visit and roundtable discussion. A media availability will follow. (Secretary King, joined by New Mexico Secretary of Education Hanna Skandera, willvisit Walatowa Charter High School. He will applaud the tribal charter school’s academic growth and efforts to protect students’ unique language and culture.)
WHEN:
School tour/classroom visit: 9:15 a.m. MT, Friday, Dec. 16, 2016
Roundtable: 9:30 a.m. MT, Friday, Dec. 16, 2016
Media availability: 10:20 a.m. MT, Friday, Dec. 16, 2016
WHERE:
Walatowa Charter High School
147 Bear Head Canyon
Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico
STOP FIVE—New Haven, Connecticut
WHO:
U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr.
Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy
Connecticut Commissioner of Education Dianna Wentzell
WHAT:
Visit to Wilbur Cross High School (Secretary King, joined by Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy and Education Commissioner Dianna Wentzell, will applaud two of New Haven’s programs that address disengaged youth. The Youth Stat program uses data about truancy, school transfers and involvement with the juvenile justice system to identify at-risk youth and to connect them with resources to help them stay in school. The School-Based Diversion Initiative was expanded as part of the Governor’s Second Chance Society Initiative to reduce juvenile justice involvement among those youth with mental health needs through training and community-based partnerships.)
WHEN:
11:30 a.m. ET, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016
WHERE:
Wilbur Cross High School
181 Mitchell Dr.
New Haven, Connecticut
STOP SIX—New Britain, Connecticut
WHO:
U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr.
WHAT:
Closing remarks for the Connecticut State Educator Equity Lab at Central Connecticut State University (Secretary King will discuss the importance of implementing state equity plans in order to ensure that low-income and minority children are not served at disproportionate rates by ineffective, out-of-field or inexperienced teachers.)
WHEN:
3 p.m. ET, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016
WHERE:
Central Connecticut State University
1615 Stanley St.
New Britain, Connecticut