PSS in historic conference call with USDOE’s Duncan

Stakeholders of the CNMI Public School System will have a chance to talk directly with U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan tomorrow when both parties hold a dialogue via conference call.

Education Commissioner Rita A. Sablan and Board of Education chair Marylou Ada disclosed yesterday that Duncan has approved a conference call with Commonwealth educators tomorrow, Wednesday, beginning at 10am, Saipan time. It will be held at the board’s conference room.

Sablan described the conference call as historic for the PSS, which sent the invite to Duncan in March.

“This is historic for the PSS and we’re very excited,” said Sablan, adding that the conference call is also a first for U.S. outlying areas.

Sablan said that Duncan also authorized the presence of education stakeholders—members of the public—at the conference call.

Besides updates on ongoing projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Duncan will also be provided important data about the CNMI Public School System, Sablan said.

The dialogue, according to Ada, will also be a good opportunity for the Commonwealth to present vital education issues at the national level.

“We will provide the secretary important information about our school system because we want him to be fully aware about all the things that really affect the system,” said Ada, adding that PSS may also seek guidance and clarification from the education secretary on certain federal grant applications. She is optimistic the dialogue will benefit Commonwealth students.

Besides the conference call, PSS is also expecting USDOE consultant Christine Jackson to be on Rota Thursday for a short visit. The official is part of the contingent that will visit Guam this week.

In October last year, Dr. Carl E. Harris, USDOE deputy assistant secretary for Policy and State Technical Assistance, visited the CNMI and shared President Obama’s “A Blueprint for Reform.” In that visit, Harris said the efforts he had seen in the Commonwealth are aligned with the federal government’s goal for education in all states and insular areas.

The blueprint proposes to raise the standards for all students, develop better assessment tools that will better capture higher-order skills, and will provide more accurate measures of student growth. The federal government will also support states, districts, school leaders and teachers in implementing a more complete education through improved professional development and evidence-based instructional models and support.