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# Secretary Cardona Announces the U.S. Department of Education’s “Raise the Bar: Lead the World” Initiative

# Secretary Cardona Announces the U.S. Department of Education’s “Raise the Bar: Lead the World” Initiative

January 24, 2023

**Contact:  **press@ed.gov

                                    -        
In a major address, U.S.  Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona laid out his vision for the direction the  agency will follow in 2023 to promote academic excellence, improve learning  conditions, and prepare our students for a world where global engagement is  critical to our nation’s standing. In his address Secretary Cardona remarked  that “Raise the Bar: Lead the World” is not a list of new priorities, but a  call to strengthen our will to transform education for the better, building on  approaches that we know work in education. Secretary Cardona outlined how the  nation has moved forward but emphasized it will take everyone working  together to produce  lasting change in the pursuit to ensure our nation's schools, students, and  teachers have everything they need to be successful.

As a way to encourage his  vision, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten will kick-off her  national “Raise the Bar: Lead the World” tour by traveling to Mesa, Arizona, to  meet with students, parents, teachers and community members to discuss ways  schools can promote academic excellence and prepare for global competitiveness.

“Education opens doors.  As a student, as a teacher, school principal, and as a parent, I’ve seen  firsthand the way it transforms lives. That’s why, when we talk about the  future of education, I could not believe more strongly that we have to Raise the Bar,” said Secretary Cardona. “We have what  it takes to lead the world in education, but it will take the collective will  to challenge complacency and status quo in education and focus on substance,  not sensationalism. Working together, I know we can do it.”

During his remarks, Secretary Cardona  underscored the need for “Raise the Bar: Lead the World” to be a bipartisan  effort. The passing of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) provided $130 billion in  funding for states to reopen schools following the COVID-19 pandemic and began  the work of providing resources aimed at closing long standing academic  achievement gaps. Following the passing of ARP, the Bipartisan Safer  Communities Act provided funds for the Department’s Stronger Connections Grant  which allocated more than $1 billion for providing schools with community  centered mental health support. Secretary Cardona laid out in his remarks that  this is the moment to move forward even further in ensuring that P12 education  provides excellent results for every student no matter their background.

After his speech, Secretary Cardona sat  down with National PTA Executive Director Nathan Monell to discuss the focus  areas in further detail.

“National PTA recognizes that rigorous education and support of students  must be a priority to invest in the future of our nation,” said Nathan R.  Monell, CAE, executive director of National PTA. “Every child has the potential  to achieve at high standards and excel as global citizens if they have the  opportunity and are encouraged to rise to new challenges. We are honored to  join Secretary Cardona and the Department of Education in such an important and  timely discussion.”

Secretary Cardona highlighted the key  focus areas of “Raise the Bar: Lead the World”:
- Achieving Academic Excellence
Accelerating learning for every student
Deliver a comprehensive and rigorous education for every       student 

- Boldly Improve Learning       Conditions
 Eliminate the educator shortage for every school
Invest in every student’s mental health and well-being

- Creating Pathways for Global       Engagements
Ensure every student has a pathway to college and career
 Provide every student a pathway to multilingualism

Click here to view a full transcript of Secretary  Cardona’s remarks.
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