Washington, DC - More than 100 school superintendents have been selected by the U.S. Department of Education to participate in “ConnectED to the Future,” hosted by President Obama on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at the White House. The event will bring together superintendents and other educators from across the country who are leading their schools and districts in the transition to digital learning.
“School districts across the country are helping teachers harness the power of technology to create personal learning environments for all students,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “We want to make sure every child - whether he or she is in the inner-city, in a rural community or on a Native American reservation - has access to knowledge and the chance to learn 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
ConnectED to the Future builds on the momentum of the ConnectED Initiative, a plan the President announced in 2013 to connect 99 percent of students to high-speed Internet and empower teachers with the technology they need to transform teaching and learning.
An important part of this initiative is ensuring that digital connectivity supports innovation in America’s classrooms. That’s why, this fall, the administration launched the Future Ready Pledge to help school districts develop a culture where teachers harness the power of technology to personalize learning and provide quality digital content that fosters student inquiry and creativity.
Through this pledge, superintendents from across the country are committing to lead a transition in their districts to innovative teaching using technology. Signatories will also work in partnership to share best practices with other school districts.
“The Future Ready Initiative highlights the critical role of district leaders in setting a vision and creating the environment where educators and students access the tools, content, and expertise necessary for thriving in a connected world,” said Richard Culatta, director of the Department’s Office of Educational Technology.
During Wednesday’s event, President Obama will host a digital pledge signing ceremony with over one hundred superintendents to be joined virtually by hundreds more across the country.
Since the President’s call to action in support of the ConnectED Initiative, more than $4 billion in public and private funding has been committed toward expanding high-speed Internet connectivity for America's schools and libraries.
A list of superintendents attending the event can be found here.
