New York State Education Leader Honored as After-School Champion

At a gala event attended by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on Tuesday, New York's Deputy Secretary of Education Duffy Palmer was honored by the Afterschool Alliance for his work on behalf of kids and families. The Alliance called Mr. Palmer "the driving force behind the addition of $9.8 million in after-school funding to last year's State Education Department budget. The funds ensured that schools and organizations could continue offering after-hours support to youth across the state, particularly in high-poverty and low-performing schools."

Mr. Palmer also led the New York State Summit on Student Engagement and Dropout Prevention, a collaborative effort between the Governor's office and America's Promise Alliance. He currently is working toward a high-level working group in Governor Paterson's office to concentrate on linking after-school and summer learning with the public education system.

Mr. Palmer was nominated for the award by the New York State Afterschool Network.