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The Council for Opportunity in Education Hosts U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel A. Cardona During Its 43rd Annual Policy Seminar on Capitol Hill

March 14, 2024 — by Terrance L. Hamm

Although not a TRIO alumnus himself, with hard work and the support of quality educators and mentors, **Secretary Cardona** became a first-generation college graduate. Moving on to earn his master’s and doctoral degrees in education, he became the youngest principal in Connecticut at age 27. He rose to Superintendent and later State Commissioner of Education.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) announced it will host U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel A. Cardona for remarks during its annual Policy Seminar on Monday, March 18.

As the first activity of COE, once it became an incorporated organization in 1981, the annual Policy Seminar has grown into a three-part event that includes the largest convening of college access and success professionals who come to Capitol Hill exclusively to fight for the Federal TRIO Programs (TRIO). Secretary Cardona will speak to the TRIO community during the event’s one-day Seminar on Relations with the U.S. Department of Education.

“As this year commemorates the 60^th anniversary of the Federal TRIO Programs, we could not be more honored that Secretary Cardona will be joining us,” said COE President Kimberly Jones. “Given his own experience as a first-generation college student, our community welcomes the opportunity to learn more about how his own experience has influenced his work leading the nation’s education agenda.”

Although not a TRIO alumnus himself, with hard work and the support of quality educators and mentors, Secretary Cardona became a first-generation college graduate. Moving on to earn his master’s and doctoral degrees in education, he became the youngest principal in Connecticut at age 27. He rose to Superintendent and later State Commissioner of Education.

Since his confirmation to lead the U.S. Department of Education, Secretary Cardona has praised TRIO’s work and consistently supported funding increases for the program in the Administration’s annual budget request to Congress.

TRIO is the largest federal infrastructure that provides academic tutoring, personal counseling, mentoring, financial guidance, and other support necessary to enable low-income, first-generation students to prepare for and succeed in college.

Through its numerous membership services, COE works with colleges, universities, and community-based agencies that host TRIO programs to provide professional development for TRIO educators, research around access and completion, and a host of student opportunities, including study abroad and internship programs.

As the primary advocacy group supporting TRIO, COE has helped grow the federal budget for the program from less than $200 million in 1985 to $1.2 billion today. Currently, TRIO serves approximately 875,000 students through nearly 3,500 individual programs in each U.S. State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Pacific Islands.

Media Inquiries

For media inquiries or to arrange an interview, please contact Terrance L. Hamm, associate vice-president for communications and marketing at COE via email at [email protected] or call (202) 347-7430.

The Council for Opportunity in Education Hosts U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel A. Cardona During Its 43rd Annual Policy Seminar on Capitol Hill

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