Secretary Arne Duncan, Deputy Assistant Secretary Jason Snyder to Participate in Building a Grad Nation Summit

U.S. Secretary of Education Secretary Arne Duncan will give brief opening remarks on the progress of the School Improvement Grants program and moderate a panel discussion on the same subject at the second annual Building A Grad Nation Summit on Monday, March 19 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. The Grad Nation coalition has set a national goal of raising the high school graduation rate to 90 percent by 2020.

After the opening session, at 10:15 a.m. ET, Jason Snyder, deputy assistant secretary for policy in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, will join several panelists to discuss strategies for turning around low performing schools. The panel is titled “Transforming Our Schools, Improving Student Success,” and will explore the different models being used to improve schools; the importance of leadership; challenges and successes around the county; and the federal government’s role in the effort.

Grad Nation is a national movement to transform awareness of the dropout crisis into sustained, result-driven action. It is a call to action for concerned citizens, businesses, community leaders, policy makers, educators and the nation. Sponsored by America’s Promise Alliance, Grad Nation’s primary goals are to end the high school dropout crisis and to prepare young people for college and the 21st century workforce.