Before Cindy Marten was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the Deputy Secretary of Education last year, she was superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District. Appointed in 2013, as superintendent Marten spurred graduation rates in the district and led the school system to be among the fastest improving urban school systems in the nation on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).

So, it will be a homecoming for her when she addresses her former urban education colleagues at the Council of the Great City Schools’ Legislative/Policy Conference, March 19-22. The conference at the landmark Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., will focus on the Department of Education priorities for the upcoming year, federal support for accelerated learning after interrupted schooling due to COVID-19, and difficulties in staffing and supplying schools to support student needs. Discussions will also center on congressional action on K-12 education and the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) spending requirements.

Conferees will also hear a videotaped message from Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. Also, addressing the conference is Catherine Lhamon, the assistant secretary for the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education, and Mary Wall, senior policy advisor for the White House Covid-19 response team.  

Click here to register for the 2022 Legislative/Policy Conference.