October 2011

Civil Rights Assistant Secretary to Participate in Panel Discussion at Boston Conference

Russlynn Ali, assistant secretary for the Office for Civil Rights, will participate in a panel discussion at the 55th annual fall conference of the Council of the Great City Schools today in Boston. She will discuss recent OCR initiatives to promote equity in education, especially related to English language learner students.

On-the-Record Conference Call -- We Can’t Wait: Arne Duncan and Melody Barnes to Host a Conference Call to Announce Administration Action to Lower Monthly Student Loan Payments

WASHINGTON, DC – TODAY at 4:40PM EDT, the White House will host an on the record conference call with Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Director of the Domestic Policy Council Melody Barnes to discuss the Obama Administration’s announcement to lower monthly student loan payments.

U.S. Department of Education's Equity and Excellence Commission to Hold Fifth Meeting Wednesday in D.C.

The U.S. Department of Education's Equity and Excellence Commission will hold its fifth meeting Wednesday in Washington, D.C. Established Feb. 2 by the Education Department, the commission is tasked with examining the impact of school finance on educational opportunity and will recommend ways school finance can be improved to increase equity and help close the achievement gap.

U.S. Education Secretary to Visit North Carolina, Hold Town Hall with Students at Wake Tech Community College

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan will visit Raleigh, N.C., on Tuesday, Oct. 25. He will hold a town hall at 1 p.m. with students at Wake Tech Community College. The town hall is an opportunity for Duncan to talk with students about the administration’s dual commitments—investing in education to secure the future and reducing spending while increasing efficiency.

Senior Official to Discuss Value of Increased Learning at Expanded Learning Convening in Boston

Michael Yudin, acting assistant secretary of the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, will participate in a panel discussion at 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at the 2011 Expanded Learning Convening in Boston.

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan to Give Remarks at Combined Federal Campaign Luncheon

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will give remarks at the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) luncheon at noon Monday, Oct. 24, at the JW Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C. He will discuss the important role that CFC plays in these tough economic times and the need to give now more than ever. This year, the CFC named Duncan its honorary chair.

Education Secretary Duncan to Celebrate Top Principals from Across the Country

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will recognize the exceptional leadership of principals from across the country during the National Association of Elementary School Principals National Distinguished Principals Program Banquet on Friday evening.

U.S. Secretary of Education to Visit Morton School of Excellence in Chicago, Discuss Importance of Afterschool Programs

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will visit Chicago’s Morton School of Excellence and observe its various afterschool programs as part of the Afterschool Alliance’s 12th annual “Lights On Afterschool” initiative taking place around the country on Thursday, Oct. 20.

Senior Advisor to Secretary of Education to Give Keynote Remarks at North Dakota Education Association’s Instructional Conference in Bismarck

Jo Anderson, senior advisor to Education Secretary Arne Duncan, will give keynote remarks at the North Dakota Education Association’s (NDEA) Instructional conference on Thursday, Oct. 20, in Bismarck, N.D.

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan to Kickoff Department's Combined Federal Campaign

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan was named by the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) as its honorary chair this year. On Wednesday, Oct. 19, on the LBJ plaza, he will kick off the Department’s 2011 campaign. The kickoff event will begin at 11:30 a.m., and Duncan is expected to join at 11:45 a.m.

U.S. Secretary of Education to Join Local and U.S. Educators as well as Community Leaders at Puerto Rico Education Summit

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is one of several Department officials who will join educators and leaders from Puerto Rico and the U.S. to host the Puerto Rico Education Summit: Investing in our Future as part of President Obama’s Task Force on Puerto Rico’s Status. The summit will be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Monday, Oct. 17.

Education Under Secretary to Highlight Efforts to Support College Students with Disabilities at CAPED Conference

U.S. Under Secretary of Education Martha Kanter will deliver the keynote address at the California Association for Postsecondary Education and Disability (CAPED) 2011 conference on Sunday, Oct. 16, at 6 p.m. Kanter, a former president of CAPED, will discuss the Department’s efforts to support all students, including those with disabilities, to ensure they receive a quality education.

U.S. Special Education Leaders to Address National Association of State Directors of Special Education

Top officials at the U.S Department of Education involved with programs that serve infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities will address the 74th Annual Conference and Business Meeting of the National Association of State Directors of Special Education Monday in Chicago.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to Hold American Jobs Act Roundtable in Richmond Friday

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will host a roundtable discussion on the American Jobs Act on Friday, Oct. 14, at 11:15 a.m. at Richmond Community High School in Richmond, Va.

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Rural Outreach to Provide Technical Assistance at the Appalachian Regional Development Initiative

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Rural Outreach John White will participate in the federal technical assistance workshop on Friday, October 14 at the Charleston Civic Center to support the Appalachian Regional Development Initiative. White will discuss career training and federal resources during the morning and afternoon sessions. The U.S.

U.S. Department of Education Senior Advisor to Visit Campagna Center’s Head Start First Day Celebration in Alexandria, VA

U.S. Department of Education Senior Advisor on Early Learning Jacqueline Jones will visit the Campagna Center’s Head Start First Day Celebration at TC Williams Tiny Titan’s Classroom to share a story with the children and discuss the Obama Administration’s commitment to early learning, at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13, in Alexandria, Va.

Education Secretary Duncan to Discuss Collaboration in Higher Education Between India and United States

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will be one of several Obama Administration officials participating in the U.S.-India Higher Education Summit at Georgetown University on Thursday, Oct. 13. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will open the conference, and Duncan will deliver closing remarks at a plenary session.

Deputy Assistant Secretary to Discuss Need for Improved Technology to Better Serve Those with Disabilities

Sue Swenson, deputy assistant secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, will lead a panel discussion at the Coleman Institute National Conference on Cognitive Disability and Technology in Challenging Economic Environments, "State of the States, State of the Nation: 2011,” on Thursday, Oct. 13.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Frank Chong to Join Discussion on Helping Students Succeed in Community College During Town Hall Meeting in Dallas

Frank Chong, deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Education’s Office and Vocational and Adult Education, will give remarks and participate in a Town Hall meeting on helping students succeed in community college at the 2011 Community College Leadership Conference in Dallas on Thursday, Oct. 13.

Education Department to Announce Resolution of Civil Rights Investigation of Los Angeles Unified School District

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Assistant Secretary Russlynn Ali, along with officials in Los Angeles, will announce the successful resolution of the first proactive civil rights enforcement action taken by the U.S. Department of Education under the Obama Administration on a national press call TODAY, Tuesday, Oct. 11, at 5:35 p.m. ET.

U.S. Rehabilitation Services Commissioner to Address Utah State Office of Rehabilitation Annual Conference in Lehi, Utah

Lynnae Ruttledge, commissioner of the U.S. Department of Education's Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), will deliver the keynote address to the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation Annual Conference Wednesday in Lehi, Utah.

Ruttledge will update participants on the work of RSA, discussing upcoming legislation and issues affecting vocational rehabilitation in Utah.

HBCU Executive Director John Wilson to Give Remarks at Tennessee Urban League Affiliates Meeting

John Silvanus Wilson, Jr., executive director, White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), will give keynote remarks at the Tennessee Urban League Affiliates meeting on Wednesday, October 12 at the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University.

Assistant Secretary of Education Brenda Dann-Messier to Give Remarks at Real World Design Challenge

U.S. Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education Brenda Dann-Messier will give remarks at the Real World Design Challenge on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center in Washington, D.C. She will discuss the importance of building the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce.

White House AAPI Initiative Co-Chair Chris Lu and Director Kiran Ahuja to Hold News Conference Call

As the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders approaches the two-year anniversary of its reauthorization by President Obama, White House Initiative co-Chair Christopher Lu will join White House AAPI Initiative director Kiran Ahuja on a media conference call on Tuesday.

Education Department to Announce Resolution of Civil Rights Investigation of Los Angeles Unified School District

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Assistant Secretary Russlynn Ali, along with local officials, will announce the successful resolution of the first proactive civil rights enforcement action taken by the Department of Education under the Obama Administration.

U.S. Education Secretary to Hold Town Hall with Oregon Education Association, Keynote Oregon Business Association's Statesman Dinner

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan will hold a town hall with the Oregon Education Association at 4:45 p.m. PT Wednesday, Oct. 12, at H.B. Lee Middle School in Portland.

U.S. Education Secretary to Visit Los Angeles, Hold Community Town Hall with Teachers, Parents and Youth

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan will host a community town hall at 5:30 p.m. PT Tuesday, Oct. 11, at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, Calif. He will join community members, including teachers, parents and students, to learn about local efforts to improve education and to discuss the Administration’s commitment to invest in education from cradle to college and career.