Today, leaders of the OU’s Institute for Public Affairs joined with leaders of other American faith communities to meet with senior officials at the U.S. Department of Education to discuss the role and concerns of faith communities in efforts to improve American education and the Obama Administration’s initiatives in that regard.

Headlining the meeting was Secretary of Education Arne Duncan – who recently spoke to these matters publicly at a conference of ministers.

When asked by OU/IPA leaders, Nathan Diament and Maury Litwack, about how the Education Department he leads will assist Jewish day schools and other non-public schools achieve excellence and overcome the economic challenges they face – particularly in the midst of the current economic downturn. Sec’y Duncan replied he is committed to the goal of all American schools – public or private – being great schools and is very interested in addressing the particulars of how to achieve that goal.

Other Education Department leaders addressing the meeting, which was principally organized by Peter Groff, director of the Department’s Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, included White House Faith-Based Office Director Joshua Dubois, Undersecretary Martha Kanter, Assistant Secretary Carmel Martin and many others.

— posted by Nathan Diament

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