WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Lisa Murkowski took part in a Department of Education (Education) online forum yesterday to ask important unanswered questions surrounding the details of possible No Child Left Behind (NCLB) waivers for Alaska, learning Education’s decisions will be made public in approximately two weeks, and educators are still welcome to contribute comments. She took advantage of the Department of Education’s Rural Education Twitter Town Hall to do so.

Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced last month that he will be issuing waivers to states seeking relief from certain NCLBs requirements, but has yet to provide details of the conditions surrounding the waivers or a timeline for states like Alaska to expect that information.

When the Department of Education announced this event on Monday, @lisamurkowski reached out via Twitter with this question:

@USEdGov When will you announce the details of the NCLB waivers? Will you take comments from rural educators?

Yesterday the Department of Education responded to her inquiry, writing:

@lisamurkowski: Details announced mid-Sept. Have been & continue soliciting comments from educators, other stakeholders.

After the event concluded, the Department of Education reached out to Sen. Murkowski via e-mail letting her know that Alaskan educators can send their comments to ESEA.Comments@ed.gov

Yesterday’s forum was a follow-up to the Department of Education’s Twitter Town Hall held last week by Secretary Arne Duncan. Just prior to the August recess, Sen. Murkowski hosted her own Brown Bag Twitter Town Hall and answered questions directly from Alaskans for over half an hour. She continues to fully utilize social media tools to expand outreach to communities and organizations like education professionals in rural Alaska.