MAYOR DESTEFANO ENGAGES SECRETARY DUNCAN AND BIG CITY MAYORS AROUND NEW HAVEN’S SCHOOL CHANGE INITIATIVE AND EDUCATION REFORM

(1/22/2010) NEW HAVEN— Earlier today, Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. met in Washington, D.C. with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and the leaders of eight American cities to discuss education reform and the role of mayors in the success of urban public schools. DeStefano engaged Duncan in a discussion around funding for school reform and the guidelines around Race to the Top, Investing in Innovation Fund and student achievement grants. DeStefano also discussed next steps in New Haven’s aggressive School Change Initiative that aims to make New Haven the best urban school district in the nation.

Duncan and Mayors from Philadelphia, Seattle, Berkeley, Providence, Sacramento, Nashville, Charleston and Akron discussed the need to improve issues of long term truancy and the need for increased access to comprehensive mental health services for children in public schools.

Duncan and President Obama have publicly praised New Haven’s School Change Initiative, launched last fall, as a national model for reform.

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Contact Name: Jessica Mayorga

Contact Email: jmayorga@newhavenct.net

Contact Phone: 203-946-7660