Top federal and state education officials are heading to the Carroll County Career and Technology Center this week to visit the Manufacturing and Machine Technologies Program - the first high school program in Maryland to receive the National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) accreditation. The National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) is the nations' only American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited developer of precision manufacturing skill standards and competency assessments.

Brenda Dan-Messier, Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) will be joined Katharine Oliver, Assistant State Superintendent for College and Career Readiness, on the visit. Other state officials are expected to join the tour.

The visit will include two roundtable discussion and a visit to the Manufacturing and Machine Technologies Program. OVAE is conducting a month-long series of visits to model programs across the country in response to President Obama's call in the State of the Union address for a greater investment of funds to prepare for the jobs of tomorrow.

WHO: U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education Brenda Dan-Messier
            Assistant State Superintendent Katharine Oliver
            Other state and local officials and educators

WHEN: Thursday, February 9
              10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

WHERE: Carroll County Career and Technology Center
                1229 Washington Road
                Westminster, Maryland 21157
                (410) 751-3669