Congressman Cleaver Welcomes Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Road to Success Bus Tour to Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, MO – Congressman Cleaver welcomed US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to Kansas City this morning to talk about the importance of early childhood education. As part of his trip to Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, Secretary Duncan launched his new "Ready for Success" Back-to-School Bus Tour. Congressman Cleaver joined Secretary Duncan, along with Cecilia Muñoz, assistant to President Obama and Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, at Woodland Early Learning Community School in Kansas City.
"Early childhood education is a vital part of our educational system," said Congressman Cleaver, "and I am thrilled that Secretary Duncan is recognizing the great work being done here in our city to increase opportunities for students, from our youngest learners all the way through college."
Early childhood education is one of the best investments we can make. There are approximately 6,000 three and four year old children within the Kansas City Public School (KCPS) boundaries, but only approximately 1,200 children are served in Pre-k classrooms that are funded by federal, or state grant programs, state child care subsidy, or parent fees. At Woodland, 82% of the children are prepared for success when they enter kindergarten compared to only 60% of kindergarteners district-wide.
Secretary Duncan's bus tour will stop in eleven cities throughout Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. More information can be here: https://www2.ed.gov/success/index.html
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Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, and also a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.
For more information please contact John Jones – john.h.jones@mail.house.gov or (202) 225-4535.