2009-01-05

President-Elect Barack Obama and his Education Secretary nominee, Arne Duncan, face a host of education issues, with the rewrite of NCLB at the top of the list. Complicating matters are the severe budget deficits that are forcing dramatic cuts in education programs and services.This month's Whole Child Podcast will address what the Obama administration can do to support our public schools and secure our children's future in these uncertain times.

We’ll hear from ASCD's InService blogger Laura Varlas about the experts' views of Arne Duncan and their hopes for the direction of the new administration's education policy. Laura will also share what she's hearing from educators on the InService blog about their hopes for our country's education priorities. Next, Claus von Zastrow from the Learning First Alliance (LFA) will discuss LFA's meeting with President-Elect Obama's transition team and LFA's recent paper on the federal role in K-12 education. Lastly, student journalist Myles Miller will tell us what young people think Barack Obama should do to improve education in America.

What are your hopes for the new administration's efforts to improve education? How can federal policy ensure each child is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged?

This month's podcast will be available for download beginning Thursday, January 8. Listen to archived episodes anytime by visiting www.wholechildeducation.org/podcasts.