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U.S. Secretary of Education Visits Van Dyne
Posted on Sat, April 5th, 2008
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Editor’s Note: The following was submitted by Syracuse City School District. If your school would like to be featured in Syracuse Parent, please e-mail us at editor@syracuseparent.net or call 434-8889 ext. 322.

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings visited the Syracuse City School District at the invitation of US Congressman Jim Walsh and specifically chose Van Duyn School as the site for her visit due to the school’s “trajectory of improvement” on New York State ELA and mathematics assessments.

The morning began with classroom visitations, followed by a congratulatory school assembly. The Congressman and Secretary then convened an Education Policy Roundtable which included invited guests from the higher education and business community along with Syracuse City School District representatives. Margaret Wilson, Principal of Van Duyn School, stated that the Secretary’s visit was a wonderful recognition of the hard work of students, teachers, and families of Van Duyn.

Mapping Progress
The following is a press release from the U.S. Secretary of Education’s Office:

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today highlighted progress toward No Child Left Behind goals in New York and across the nation at a visit to Van Duyn Elementary School today with Rep. Jim Walsh (NY-25). Following classroom visits and an assembly with students, Secretary Spellings and Rep. Walsh also participated in an education policy roundtable discussion with state and local education leaders, college presidents, parents and business leaders.

“We can be proud of the fact that No Child Left Behind has changed our national conversation on education,” said Secretary Spellings. “Instead of questioning whether or not all students can learn, thanks to this law, we’re finally beginning to make sure that every child is learning.”

At the roundtable, Secretary Spellings and Rep. Walsh met with Syracuse City School District Deputy Superintendent Christine Vogelsang, Syracuse Board of Education president Ned Deuel, Onondaga Community College president Deborah Sydow, Le Moyne College president John Smarrelli, Sensis Corporation president and CEO Jud Gostin, and CXtec vice president Barbara Ashkin, among others.

Secretary Spellings also discussed a new tool recently released by the U.S. Department of Education, Mapping New York’s Educational Progress 2008, which provides a look at the state’s No Child Left Behind comparative indicators.
“New York deserves credit for having the greatest percentage of graduating seniors scoring 3 or higher on AP exams,” said Secretary Spellings. “But there is important work ahead to ensure that all children do their best.”

Secretary Spellings noted that New York was as one of the first five states to have its accountability plan approved under NCLB and has also instituted a standards and assessment system that includes reading, math, and science.
To view Mapping New York’s Educational Progress 2008, visit www.ed.gov/nclb/accountability/results/progress/ny.html.

Kaitlyn poses for her babysitter who took this image of her playing outside.