Bethany M. Little

Previous Professional Experience

• Managing Partner, America Achieves (2012–2014)
  • Managed programs including fellowship for leading chief state school officers, development of global competitiveness scorecard, and expansion of OECD Test for Schools
  • Advised on strategy, advocacy, and policy for Results for America initiative focused on building an evidence base for effective programs and increasing the investment of public funds in taking evidence–based solutions to large scale
  • Served on senior leadership team for national nonprofit organization supporting large–scale systems change in education to prepare young people for success in college, careers, and citizenship

• Chief Education Counsel, U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (2009–2012)
  • Top education staffer for the Chairman of the U.S. Senate committee with jurisdiction over education bills and managed education policy staff to negotiate bipartisan bills, draft legislation, hold hearings, and provide oversight for relevant agencies and programs
  • Led the passage of the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act as well as an investigation into waste, fraud, and abuse at for–profit colleges

• Vice President for Policy and Federal Advocacy, Alliance for Excellent Education (2005–2009)
  • Developed a policy agenda and advocacy strategy to move secondary school reform issues forward in national and federal arenas
  • Built effective coalitions to advance key issues including the Common Core State Standards and the Data Quality Campaign
  • Directed a team in a legislative advocacy effort that resulted in the introduction of major bills with bipartisan and bicameral support on topics including college and career ready standards, adolescent literacy, high school reform, middle school improvement, graduation rate accountability, and longitudinal data systems
  • Secured and managed millions of dollars in grant funding to deliver papers, events, advisory committees, and other grant requirements

• Director of Government Relations, Children's Defense Fund (2003–2005)
  • Directed advocacy efforts and provided policy direction across divisions including Education and Youth Development, Health, Family Income, Child Welfare, and Early Childhood
  • Developed and implemented strategies to promote positive legislative and regulatory outcomes for low–income and minority children by influencing budget, authorizing and appropriations decisions by the U.S. Congress and federal agencies
  • Managed grassroots efforts to impact federal policy including development of key publications, redesign of website, direction of e–advocacy campaigns, visits to Capitol Hill, coordination with allied organizations, and engagement of religious, state, and local advocates on behalf of children, including leading the “Children Can't Vote. You Can” campaign

• Legislative Assistant, Office of United States Senator Patty Murray (2001–2003)
  • Served as policy, funding, political, communications, and strategic advisor on education, welfare, and children and families issues for a U.S. senator who is a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, the Appropriations Committee, and the Budget Committee
  • Played major role in drafting, negotiating and developing strategy on legislation including the No Child Left Behind Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Head Start, and bills on child care, welfare, and child abuse prevention
  • Developed and implemented legislative, outreach, and message strategies with leading national organizations to advance legislative agendas related to key children and families' issues

• The White House (1999–2001)
  • Associate Director of the Domestic Policy Council
    • Managed White House education policy team to develop proposals and assess policy options for the President including legislative proposals, budget requests, administrative rules and regulations, policy implementation, and executive orders
    • Coordinated communications strategies for education priorities such as class size reduction, standards and accountability, and after–school programs by crafting message events, drafting press papers and remarks, and representing the president at education meetings and events
  • Policy Advisor to the Vice President
    • Developed policy proposals, analyzed policy options, managed education events, and communicated with press, advocacy groups, and constituents on behalf of the vice president

• Confidential Assistant, U.S. Department of Education (1998–1999)
  • Designed strategies focused on improving the management and results of the U.S. Department of Education, including implementation of the Department's strategic plan

• Project Leader and Executive Assistant to the President, Council for Excellence in Government
• Budget Analyst, Presidential Inaugural Committee (1997)
• Drafts Officer, Delegate Coordinator, and Field Staff, Clinton/Gore '96
• Program Coordinator, S.E.E.K. Progress Program, Bell Multicultural High School