The Department of Education Hosts National Youth Summit

On February 26, 2011, The Department of Education will be hosting a national youth summit in Washington, D.C.

President Barack Obama has set a goal that by 2020 the United States lead the world in college completion. Over the summer the United States' Department of Education (ED) conducted a National Youth Listening Tour to engage youth in a conversation on what it will take to meet the President's goal. ED met with more than 1800 middle and high school students from across the country. To close the tour, ED will host "Voices in Action: National Youth Summit."

The purpose of the summit will be to galvanize youth to shape strategies to provide pathways for all youth – those who are in middle and high school as well as those who are out of work, out of school and out of the mainstream – to be on track to achieve high school and postsecondary credentials. The summit will share what students have told ED to date, provide additional youth the opportunity to give input, provide opportunities to communicate their views and ideas directly to senior administration officials, and allow students to plan ongoing youth-led, youth-directed efforts which will continue after the summit.

Summit Details

WHAT:	Day long event that will include workshops, music, entertainment, and dialogues on key issues that were raised during the tour including high quality teaching, mentors, school climate, family/parent engagement, and the college access/completion information gap
WHO:	A diverse cross-section of 200-220 high school students and some middle school students.
WHEN:	Saturday, February 26, 2011 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
WHERE:	Washington D.C. (Banneker High School and Howard University)

How To Participate

1. Non-profit organizations and/or school districts may send youth representatives. Adults from non-profits and school districts are responsible for providing appropriate chaperones for their representatives. A registration site with hotel information, program, and workshop descriptions will be made available soon.
2. Youth leaders will be invited to submit a "Youth Innovation and Action" workshop proposal, to share their ideas with other youth on what can be done to increase college access and completion. There will be a limited amount of workshops that will be selected.
3. If you cannot send youth representatives, you can host a "Watch Party" and create a virtual space for students to participate during the Education Policy Panel where youth and senior staff will have a dialogue on key policy solutions to help achieve the President's goal.
   Click here for registration!