NCLB Listening and Learning Tour: A Conversation About Education Reform

On May 5, 2009, Secretary Arne Duncan launched his "NCLB Listening and Learning Tour: A Conversation About Education Reform." He is visiting communities across the country to hear from parents, teachers, students, citizens, and others about the No Child Left Behind Act and education reform. Below are highlights from the tour.

HBCU Director John Wilson Visits Jackson State University

December 18, 2009 – 6:03 pm

We had an uplifting and engaging day at Jackson State University on December 8. It was the first time Dr. John Wilson, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), participated on behalf of Secretary Arne Duncan in a Listening and Learning Tour event.

We arrived to a welcoming audience of teachers, parents, administrators, students, and community leaders of HBCUs teacher prep programs. They’d come to discuss a number of important topics: the President’s goal to produce a higher percentage of college graduates by 2020, the administration’s higher education agenda, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Race to the Top, and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. As cameramen and news reporters moved into position, we knew it would be a lively town-hall meeting.

In his opening remarks, Wilson painted a picture of the year 2020 — the year this nation will have reached President Obama’s goal of a college graduation rate of over a 60 percent. “We can’t reach this goal without the active participation of our HBCUs,” Wilson said.

He noted that of the 3.2 million teachers currently in America’s classrooms, more than 1/3 will retire within the next four years. He applauded Jackson State University for producing the highest percentage (around 70 percent) of teachers in the state of Mississippi. He challenged Jackson State and other colleges and universities to produce even more quality teachers, particularly math and science teachers — and African-American male teachers, who currently only account for two percent of the nation’s teacher population.

Wilson reiterated the importance of the recently announced final requirements for $3.5 billion in Title I School Improvement grants. He encouraged schools to compete for those funds as well as other ED grants.

He concluded by challenging the audience to think creatively and innovatively — to move this country forward by ensuring every child who graduates from high school is ready for college or the workforce. Participants asked a number of good questions. Wilson was pleased with the dialogue and plans to continue it with other HBCUs.

ED Staff

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Listening and Learning in Newport News, VA

November 25, 2009 – 3:05 pm

Last week Congressman Bobby Scott, Brigadier General Brian Layer, and Newport News Public Schools Superintendent Ashby Kilgore joined Secretary Duncan for stops at the An Achievable Dream network of schools in Newport News, Virginia.  The stops were part of the Secretary’s “Listening and Learning Tour” across America.  Since May, he has visited communities in nearly 30 states to solicit feedback around federal education policy in anticipation of the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.


Click here for an accessible version of the video.

An Achievable Dream is a unique partnership between Newport News Public Schools, the City of Newport News, and the local business community to give students who are at risk an equal chance to succeed.  Students at both the An Achievable Dream Academy and the An Achievable Dream Middle and High School campus attend school for eight hours a day and 210 days a year, compared to the six hours a day and 180 days a year in most schools.  Also, there are three mandatory 10-day intersessions where students participate in enrichment and accelerated activities, or remediation if necessary.

Character education is the foundation of An Achievable Dream and is taught every day.  Banners with motivational phrases and the well-defined rules of the school are hung throughout the school building.  Guest speakers and extracurricular activities are planned around character development themes, including close interaction with soldiers from Fort Eustis Army Base.

At An Achievable Dream Academy, Secretary Duncan and Congressman Scott greeted students and soldiers from Fort Eustis assembled in the gymnasium for a community circle.  They read to 1st graders in the Verizon Reading Room and talked with 5th graders enrolled in the school’s mandatory Speaking GREEN class.  Speaking GREEN teaches the difference between casual/slang conversation and work-place appropriate conversation.  In response to the Secretary’s question on why An Achievable Dream Academy was the right school for them, a 5th grade student offered, “I am here because I want a better future.  What I learn here will help me be successful in high school, college and in life.”

Following the stop at An Achievable Dream Academy, the Secretary and Congressman Scott convened a roundtable discussion with local business and community leaders, educators, students and parents at the An Achievable Dream Middle and High School campus.  The discussion centered around ways to improve teacher recruitment, professional preparation and induction programs; strategies to prepare students for college and the world of work; and replicating effective dropout prevention models.

Although educators and administrators testified to the quality of the State’s traditional and alternative certification programs, many detailed the difficulties in attracting and retaining talented educators.  They urged investment in “grow your own strategies” in tandem with local universities that provide high school students with exposure to the teaching profession. Participants stressed the need to “celebrate” the profession, end the “teacher bashing,” and incentivize the next generation of teachers through competitive salaries and meaningful career growth opportunities.

Community leaders talked about the importance of involving parents in schools and ensuring that “no family is left behind.”  They noted, though, that involving all parents effectively is a significant challenge.  Local business leaders urged educators to continuously court the business community due to their vested interest in America’s educational system.  As one local business leader put it, “we want to invest in what works… we have not yet begun to scratch the surface with the business community in this country.”  Superintendent Kilgore passionately talked about the need to replicate and expand models that work to close the achievement gap.  “An Achievable Dream is an incubator for us.  We take what works here to help other children across the district succeed.”

A single mother who raised five boys simply said, “An Achievable Dream was the path to get my kids to college.  This school helped me do that and I am grateful for what they have done.”

ED Staff
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Gingrich, Sharpton, Duncan Continue Education Tour in Baltimore

November 20, 2009 – 3:54 pm
Gingrich, Sharpton, Duncan continue education tour in Baltimore

The education tour continues in Baltimore.

Al Sharpton and Newt Gingrich joined Secretary Arne Duncan last week along the Chesapeake Bay in Baltimore for the second stop of their education tour. They visited classes and talked with students and teachers at the KIPP-Ujima Village Academy, Holabird Elementary School, and Hampstead Hill Academy.

Each school is an example of a successful learning environment that is meeting the educational needs of a diverse range of students. KIPP-Ujima Village Academy is a charter school that asks teachers and students to commit to longer school days and school year; Holabird Elementary School hired a new principal and empowered her to make budget and staffing decisions; and Hampstead Hill Academy converted from a public school to a charter school.

The former House Speaker and the civil rights leader are joining Duncan on this tour to find out what works in education and help rally support for:

  • higher learning standards
  • lifting restrictions on the growth of high-quality charter schools
  • turning around low-performing schools
  • improving principal and teacher quality
  • greater transparency and accountability in all schools.

More stops will be scheduled as the tour progresses.

ED Staff

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U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Visits Rhode Island and Connecticut to Listen and Learn

November 6, 2009 – 4:16 pm

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This week, Secretary Duncan took his national “Listening and Learning Tour” to New England, with visits to Rhode Island and Connecticut. Since May, the secretary has traveled across the country to nearly 30 states in an effort to receive feedback on federal education policy and input on the Obama administration’s education agenda.

While in the Ocean State, Secretary Duncan visited Hamilton Elementary School in North Kingstown with U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representative Jim Langevin. Lily Eskelsen, vice president of the National Education Association (NEA), and Lawrence Purtill, president of the Rhode Island NEA affiliate, also participated in conversations with 75 educators and administrators.

The dialogue in Rhode Island largely focused on the concerns of education support staff—who are, too often, overlooked in discussions of effective schools. These professionals help teachers in the classroom, transport and feed students, ensure that schools are safe and clean, and connect with parents. Sen. Reed, whose father served as a custodian in nearby Cranston, R.I., shared that he has a unique appreciation for the role of support staff in creating a community of adults who are dedicated to the wellbeing of children in a school.

Secretary Duncan heard from cafeteria workers who relayed their ideas about how to make school lunches more nutritious and teachers’ aides who were interested in receiving more opportunities for high-quality professional development. Secretary Duncan noted that although Rhode Island is a relatively small state, it has a chance to do exciting things in the national “Race to the Top” to improve education.

During the Listening and Learning event at Norwalk Community College (NCC) in Connecticut, Secretary Duncan was joined by NCC President David Levinson, U.S. Representative Jim Himes, and Superintendent of the Stamford Public Schools Joshua Starr. Secretary Duncan urged the gathered educators, administrators, policymakers, and community and religious leaders to challenge the status quo, adding that the state has a real opportunity to break through on closing its academic achievement gap—which is one of the largest in the country.

Dr. Edward Zigler, who also was in attendance and frequently has been called “the father of Head Start,” noted that he is more hopeful today than he has been in the past 50 years about the administration’s commitment to early childhood education. Gwen Samuel, chairperson of the State of Black Connecticut Alliance, made an impassioned plea to the secretary to support programs that make it easier for parents to get involved in their children’s schools, and noted the importance of communities engaging in shared leadership.   “No one group works alone,” Secretary Duncan agreed. “If folks can collaborate—and we need to collaborate—we have the chance to see dramatically better results.”

ED Staff

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ED General Counsel Charles Rose visits Renton, WA for listen and learn

November 2, 2009 – 4:19 pm

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On October 14, 2009, ED’s General Counsel, Charles P. Rose, visited Renton High School in Renton, WA, for Listening and Learning meetings with teachers and parents.

The Renton school district serves a diverse population of 14,000 students.  Although Renton High School has been in restructuring status for the past five years, the school has made progress toward elevating achievement and preparing students for college and careers.  Their success is made possible by a hard-working staff of teachers and administrators and dedicated parents.

During Rose’s visit, he heard from many of these very teachers and parents on a variety of issues, returning to the Department with a wealth of on-the-ground feedback.

Teachers spoke candidly about reforms they deemed helpful and others that they viewed with less enthusiasm.  Many lauded the value of high-quality data and professional development in improving instruction, while others expressed concerns about adequate yearly progress (AYP) benchmarks and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act’s reliance on test scores.  Parents provided insightful comments of their own about the need for uniform assessments, expressed support for efforts geared toward increased learning time, and suggested that the Federal government reassess Federal poverty measures to more fairly reflect regional differences in the cost of living.

Rose thanked all of the teachers and parents who attended the Listening and Learning meeting and who demonstrated their extraordinary commitment to Renton High School and its students.  He has since taken their questions and comments back to Washington where they will contribute to the continuing efforts of ED officials to enact meaningful education reform.

ED Staff

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Listening and Learning tour stops in Des Moines, WA with ED General Counsel Charlie Rose

November 1, 2009 – 4:37 pm

Aviation3

On October 14, 2009, ED’s General Counsel, Charlie Rose, visited Aviation High School in Des Moines, WA, for a Listening and Learning meeting.  A magnet school in the Highline school district, Aviation trains its students for careers in aerospace and related science and technology fields.  The school enjoys substantial support from business and community partners that include the Port of Seattle and the Gates Foundation, and attracts students from across the Seattle metropolitan area, many of whom commute more than two hours to attend.

During his visit, Rose heard from more than 40 students, parents, teachers, administrators and school partners about Aviation’s unique approach to learning.  Many spoke about Aviation’s rich ties with the local aerospace community, the value of programs that pair students with professional mentors, and the importance of alternative certification programs.  Several stakeholders also spoke about the need for greater facilities funding in public education, particularly as Aviation looks to build a new campus.

Most of all, attendees championed Aviation’s focus on problem solving, and encouraged the Department to invest in innovative models like theirs.  Highline School District Superintendent John Welch also noted that although Washington State has no charter laws, innovative schools like Aviation still manage to thrive.

At the conclusion of Rose’s visit, he spoke directly with students in the school’s robotics lab, witnessing live demonstrations of their projects and listening to them describe how Aviation High School is helping them pursue their dreams.

ED Staff

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Secretary Arne Duncan Visits Delaware, New Jersey

October 28, 2009 – 6:08 pm

ADDENJ 6

Yesterday Secretary Arne Duncan participated in a statewide leadership forum at the University of Delaware with Gov. Jack Markell and Delaware Secretary of Education Lillian Lowery.  He discussed the importance of improving schools and the state’s plan to turn around failing schools. See media coverage of the forum and highlights of remarks by Duncan and other speakers. Read about Delaware’s plan to provide a world-class public education to every student in the state, Vision 2015.

Later in the day, Duncan traveled to New Jersey, where he joined Gov. Jon Corzine for a tour of Rosa International Middle School in Cherry Hill.  They visited classes and talked with students, teachers, and administrators, including Principal Ed Canzanese, science teacher Christine Weigel, and humanities teacher Carolyn Grossi. While there, Duncan and Corzine participated in a roundtable discussion with students, parents, and teachers and congratulated the school for its Blue Ribbon Schools award.  The Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes schools that make significant progress in closing the achievement gap.

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Secretary Arne Duncan Takes Listening Tour to Wyoming

September 25, 2009 – 7:34 am
Secretary Arne Duncan Takes Listening Tour to Wyoming

Secretary Arne Duncan visited Glenrock, Wyoming, to hear about education challenges facing rural communities and ideas for reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in ways that address rural needs.

On September 18, Senator Mike Enzi joined Secretary Arne Duncan for a stop at Grant Elementary School in Glenrock, Wyoming, as part of his NCLB Listening and Learning Tour. The discussion—which included Glenrock area teachers, administrators, parents and students, as well as state leaders—focused on education challenges facing rural communities and ideas for how the Elementary and Secondary Education Act should address rural needs.

Teachers and administrators testified to the difficulties in attracting and retaining talented educators in rural areas and asked about ways to incent qualified teachers. They expressed concerns about the emphasis on testing and current accountability measures under NCLB, as well as the unique challenge rural communities face in complying with the highly qualified teacher (HQT) regulations. The local high school principal likened the HQT challenge to fielding a basketball team where all the pool of available players are all undersized. “You field the team that you have available in rural communities,” he said.

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Back-to-School National Town Hall Meeting with Secretary Arne Duncan

September 16, 2009 – 4:54 pm

ED News Virtual Town HallLast night Secretary Arne Duncan hosted a virtual national “listening and learning” event before a live studio audience of 60 parents and educators at the WETA television studio in Arlington, VA.

Watch the town hall meeting now.

In addition to hearing from the audience, Secretary Duncan responded to phone calls, emails, and video submissions from across the nation.  (See photos.) Dave from Iowa asked about standards.  A mother in California asked how to improve teaching for children with disabilities.  A caller from Nevada questioned whether teachers should be evaluated based on student test scores.  A parent from Tennessee asked how to gain buy-in from teachers for a longer school year.

The town hall-style meeting was broadcast live on many of the approximately 800 public access, PBS, and Dish Network stations that are registered broadcast partners.

Secretary Duncan and his leadership team will visit all 50 states this year to listen and learn from students, teachers, and communities in preparation for working with Congress on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

John White
Press Secretary

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Heard on the Tour: Secretary Arne Duncan Visits Anchorage

August 12, 2009 – 3:49 pm
Secretary Arne Duncan visits Anchorage.

Secretary Arne Duncan visits Anchorage.

We had a great day in Anchorage yesterday, our first of three days in Alaska to gather input as part of the “Listening and Learning” education reform tour.

Our first stop, the Alaska Native Heritage Center, was much more than a visit to a museum. We saw children and adults learning about Alaskan history, native dances and sports, and more. We watched women making coats by hand. We saw subterranean homes. Student and adult guides explained how the homes were made and described unique design features, including the narrow tunneled entrances, which keep out polar bears. We saw whale bones and heard about salmon runs and the many types of fish (red, silver, pink salmon, kingfish, halibut, others). One of the student guides said his father caught a 97-pound salmon this year. He said his family hauled in 128 salmon on a recent fishing trip. This should last them one month this winter.

At our second stop, Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Senators Murkowski and Begich joined Arne for the listening and learning event. More than 50 people attended — teachers, state department of education and university of Alaska officials, parents, and media. In his opening remarks, Arne announced the three-year $1.2 million grant to Anchorage public schools to help reduce the dropout rate and prepare students for college and careers. There were many good questions. Afterward, Arne and ED chief of staff Margot Rogers met with Governor Sean Parnell.

Arne seemed to accomplish everything he wanted on the first day in Alaska, except seeing a moose. But maybe in Hooper Bay today.

John White
Press Secretary

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