Today, Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten met with members of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) to discuss the Biden-Harris Administration's education agenda; hear from K-12 state education chiefs from across the country on academic achievement and acceleration efforts and how to sustain high-impact programs established with American Rescue Plan funds; and discuss the Administration's historic investments in education.
In the meeting, Director Tanden and Deputy Secretary Marten reaffirmed President Biden's commitment to improving student achievement and ensuring that children are equipped to compete in the 21st century. Earlier this year, the Administration announced its Improving Student Achievement Agenda using all of its tools-including accountability, reporting, grants, and technical assistance-to intensify and sustain State and local adoption of three evidence-based strategies that improve student learning: (1) increasing student attendance; (2) providing high-dosage tutoring; and (3) increasing summer learning and out-of-school time learning.
Also today, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) highlighted that it issued a Dear Colleague Letter, sharing more ideas and resources on improving student attendance and engagement.
Director Tanden noted that President Biden and the entire Administration have been laser focused on academic achievement and acceleration since coming into office. And school systems around the nation are focused on improving academic outcomes and accelerating results from the disruptions students faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Deputy Secretary Marten highlighted the Department's efforts to secure historic investments in Title I funding, increase access to mental health services for students, invest in Full-Service Community Schools, expand pathways to college and careers, and make access to higher education more affordable and accessible.
During the discussion, state chiefs and CCSSO Chief Executive Officer Carissa Moffat Miller addressed the important investments that ARP funds have had in schools across the country, including but not limited to, high-dosage tutoring, extended learning programming in literacy and mathematics, and programs to increase educator recruitment and retention. In addition, state leaders highlighted ways in which they plan to sustain high-impact programs beyond September 2024.
Among participants in today's meeting included:
- Neera Tanden, Assistant to the President and Director of the Domestic Policy Council
- Cindy Marten, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education
- Carissa Moffat Miller, CCSSO CEO
- Margie Vandeven, CCSSO Board President and Missouri Commissioner
- Eric Mackey, CCSSO Board President-Elect and Alabama Superintendent
- Kirsten Baesler, CCSSO Past President and North Dakota Superintendent
