12 Jan2016

Acting Secretary King Announces January Meeting Tour

The U.S. Department of Education announced Monday that Acting Secretary John King will start an “Opportunity Across America Tour” January 14. The tour will focus on King’s stated priorities for 2016:

Promoting equity and excellence at every level of education to ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed
Supporting and lifting up the teaching profession
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

In the coming week, King will be visiting Texas; Washington, DC; Delaware; and Pennsylvania. If any of the locations are in your community, you might want to attend to connect with King in person. The full announcement and schedule appear below.

U.S. Acting Education Secretary John King Announces "Opportunity Across America Tour"
Contact: Press Office, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov

As part of his first month in office, Acting U.S. Secretary of Education John King will launch an "Opportunity Across America" tour to meet with students, teachers, principals, parents and community leaders in four states and Washington, D.C.

The tour will start in El Paso, Texas, on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016, and continue with visits to Houston, Texas; Washington, D.C.; Orlando, Florida; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Wilmington, Delaware. King will use the tour to highlight good work going on in schools and communities across the country and to hear stories, experiences and insights about what’s working and where there is more work to be done. The events will focus on King’s top priorities for the next year: promoting equity and excellence at every level of education to ensure that every child has 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.

Preliminary details of the tour activities follow, with additional information and exact timing for each site to be released as it becomes available. Most events will include a media availability with King and local officials.

Event 1

What: Roundtable discussion on implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act and supporting border communities with U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke
When: Thursday, Jan. 14
Where: Bowie High School, 801 S. San Marcial St., El Paso, Texas

Event 2

What: Roundtable discussion on supporting healthy students and communities
When: Friday, Jan. 15
Where: Sharpstown High School, 7504 Bissonnet St., Houston, Texas

Event 3

What: Remarks at National Action Network Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast
When: Monday, Jan. 18
Where: Mayflower Renaissance Hotel – 1127 Connecticut Ave., N.W. – Washington, D.C.

Event 4

What: Campus leader and student discussion on college affordability and completion with Under Secretary Ted Mitchell
When: Tuesday, Jan. 19
Where: Valencia Community College, 1800 S. Kirkman Road, Orlando, Florida

Event 5
What: Teacher Town Hall
When: Thursday, Jan. 21
Where: School of the Future – 4021 Parkside Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Event 6

What: Meeting with state and local officials and educators to highlight and discuss the state’s efforts to improve and reduce testing
When: Friday, Jan. 22
Where: Wilmington, Delaware