Weingarten, Duncan, Solis Featured at AFT's
QuEST Educational Issues Conference
July 13-15 at Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington

WASHINGTON—The American Federation of Teachers' biennial educational issues conference begins Monday and features U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan taking questions from the audience of 2,000 educators, a speech by U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, a keynote address by AFT President Randi Weingarten, events with unionized charter school teachers, and a panel on community schools.

The first day of QuEST (Quality Educational Standards in Teaching) features Weingarten's
3 p.m. keynote speech, which will focus on the need for greater collaboration between educators and school officials. At 4:30 p.m., Secretary Duncan will take questions from teachers during a town-hall-style forum. Immediately following that session (at approximately 5:45 p.m.), Duncan and Weingarten will be available for press. Later, they will join unionized charter school teachers from cities around the country, along with Green Dot Public Schools founder Steve Barr, at a reception.

Tuesday's highlights include a 9 a.m. session with Linda Darling-Hammond of Stanford University, who will speak about teacher quality, followed by a rally for healthcare reform. A 4 p.m. panel discussion on community schools will feature educators from New York City and Cincinnati.

Labor Secretary Solis will address the educators during Wednesday's closing session.

In addition to the general sessions, starting at 1 p.m. on Monday, educators also will attend workshops covering a range of education topics, such as common academic standards, early childhood education, English language learners, classroom management, and collaborating with parents and the community.

Reporters may attend all of the general sessions and workshops, and should first stop at the QuEST Press Office to receive credentials and other materials.

WHERE:                          Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, DC
PRESS OFFICE:              Jefferson Room
PRESS OFFICE PHONE: 202/745-2176

For more information or to download a complete QuEST schedule: www.aft.org/quest2009/index.htm

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