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Listening Session for U.S. Department of Education Hosted at LCU

On Monday, representatives from the <link http: www.ed.gov>U.S. Department of Education, Dr. Lisa Ramirez and Dr. David Cantrell, visited LCU for a listening session as part of the new Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Ramirez, director for migrant education and acting director for the Office of School Support and Rural Programs, and her colleague, Cantrell, group leader for the Rural Education Achievement Program, visited campus for dinner and the listening session in the Bozeman. The response from listening sessions helps the <link http: www.ed.gov>Department of Education to fulfill their mission to “promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal success.” “The visit by Dr. Ramirez and Dr. Cantrell provides an avenue for dialogue about issues related to education in rural schools and the challenges they face,” said Dr. Cathy Box, professor of the LCU School of Education. “We invited area teachers, administrators, and paraprofessionals who work in rural schools to join us and share their experiences and perspectives about what support systems and resources are needed to enhance the educational opportunities for their students.” Approximately 30 education stakeholders from region schools were invited to participate in the session. As part of the ESSA, which replaced No Child Left Behind (NCLB) in Dec. 2015, the Department of Education is seeking to learn more about the challenges that rural schools and local education agencies (LEAs) face in the developing and maintaining strong educational programs. The session included discussion questions that will help inform education policy and implementation of ESSA.