THE NATION’S MAYORS TO DISCUSS PRIORITIES IN PUBLIC EDUCATION WITH WITH U.S. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION ARNE DUNCAN, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS & PUBLIC SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS

(3/26/2009) Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. and Superintendent Dr. Reginald Mayo to Speak on National Forum On Education Panel -- Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. – Over 20 U.S. Mayors from across the country will convene with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and members of Congress for the Mayors’ National Forum on Education on Tuesday March 31, at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. Among these national leaders will be New Haven Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. and Superintendent Dr. Reginald Mayo who will lead a panel entitled “Mayors and Superintendents: Building a Successful Partnership” alongside Washington D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty and Chancellor of Schools Michelle Rhee.

The successful partnership between DeStefano and Mayo over the course of the past 16 years has led to: one of the nation’s most impressive inter-district magnet programs, a $1.5 billion school construction program, significant increases in the number of New Haven children enrolled in pre-k, significant changes in head start and a rewarding move from separate elementary and middle schools to new school buildings that house grades K-8 for improved learning environments. This partnership continues to reap benefits for the youth and families of New Haven as DeStefano and Mayo work to move New Haven schools from incremental to exponential growth and improvement.

Mayors will hear presentations from the following during the Forum: U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (CO), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (WA), U.S. Congressman & Urban Caucus Chair Chaka Fattah (PA), and School Superintendents from the District of Columbia, New Haven, CT and Trenton, NJ public school systems.

Made possible by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Forum will provide an opportunity for mayors to dialogue with Department of Education officials about mayoral priorities in education. The Forum will also cover topics such as early childhood education, high school dropout prevention and afterschool programming.

For a full meeting agenda, please visit www.usmayors.org.

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Contact Name: Jessica Mayorga

Contact Email: jmayorga@newhavenct.net

Contact Phone: 203-946-7660