U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten continues her “ARPStars” tour in Colorado this week, to highlight ways schools are using American Rescue Plan (ARP) investments to support K-12 students’ recovery. She will visit various school districts in the Denver Metro area.

Today, Deputy Secretary Marten will join Colorado Governor Jared Polis, Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera, and Colorado Commissioner of Education Katy Anthes for remarks at Stuart Middle School where they will discuss programs funded by COVID relief money.

Afterwards, to kick off Mental Health Awareness Month, the Deputy Secretary will tour John E. Flynn/A Marzano Academy to learn more about their social-emotional learning and mental health programs. Then, she will visit Rangeview High School where she will participate in a Teacher Appreciation Week celebration.

On Wednesday morning, Deputy Secretary Marten will attend the 2022 Public Education and Business Coalition (PEBC) of Colorado Education Workforce Forum where she will give remarks about the importance of community partnerships. The 2022 Colorado Education Workforce Forum will be an opportunity for the Colorado business community to hear from urban and rural superintendents and other educational leaders about the Colorado teacher shortage and learn actionable ways the business community can help stem the shortage. Then she will head to Aurora Public Schools where she will visit Clyde Miller P-8 and Virginia Court Elementary School to learn about different ways the schools have utilized their ARP funds to support positive mental health outcomes for students.

These visits are part of Deputy Secretary Marten’s “ARPStars” tour to highlight the use of ARP funds in school districts across the country. Since President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan into law one year ago, which included $130 billion to support recovery efforts at K-12 schools, more than 99% of elementary and secondary school students have returned to classrooms for in-person learning.

PRESS: If you are interested in covering each event, please email press@ed.gov