U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will keynote the second Summit on the Role of Education in Economic Development in Rural America. The event, taking place Tuesday, April 17, at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Va., is co-hosted by the White House Rural Council and the Education Commission of the States. Duncan will address the connections between the Administration’s education reform efforts and recommendations made following last year’s summit. Both Secretaries will engage the audience in a discussion about solutions for overcoming the unique challenges faced by distant and remote rural communities. Throughout the day, federal, state, and local partners will present and discuss effective economic development models that can be replicated in rural areas.
U.S. Department of Education officials also will participate in the summit and provide updates on federal rural program efforts. John White, deputy assistant secretary for rural outreach, will deliver luncheon remarks on available resources and necessary collaborations at the local, state and federal levels. Larkin Tackett, director of place-based initiatives in the Office of Innovation and Improvement, will discuss Promise Neighborhoods and Choice Neighborhoods; and Sue Liu, senior policy advisor in the Office of Vocational and Adult Education, will discuss the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training grants.