UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFICE OF INNOVATION AND IMPROVEMENT eo 29 ako Dear Colleague: | am writing to invite you to the Department's meeting with arts education leaders to discuss the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 from 2:00 ~3:30 p.m. in the Barnard Auditorium at the U.S. Department of Education headquarters located at 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202. In preparation for ESEA reauthorization, the Department is hosting listening and learning sessions with education stakeholders and considers this meeting an important opportunity to hear from arts ‘education leaders. We are interested in hearing your views and suggestions on how ESEA can be improved to ensure a quality arts education forall children, | will be joined by my colleague Carmel Martin, Assistant Secretary of the Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, as well as other Department staff. To reserve your place at the meeting and facilitate your entry into the building, please send a confirmation e-mail with your contact information (include “January 20 ESEA Reauthorization Meeting” in the subject line) to eseaartsstakeholders@ed.gov as soon as possible, but no later than January 13. If ‘you plan to make remarks, we ask that they be limited to three minutes. We also request that you forward a hard copy of your remarks to the above e-mail address or bring a copy to the meeting. Individuals who are unable to attend should feel free to send their comments as well If you have further questions, please feel free to send them to eseastakeholders@ed.gov. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you dames H. Sheltof lil Assistant Deputy Secretary 400 MARYLAND AVE, 5.W, WASHINGTON, DC Vomit. gov (ur mason to ensure equal accesso education and to promote educational excellence throughout te