The 9th Annual Quality Education Conference: Strengthening Opportunities to Learn in Challenging Economic Times

Education lawyers, advocates, educators, policymakers, and organizers gathered on May 7-8, 2009 at the 9th Annual Quality Education Conference in Washington, D.C. Co-sponsored by the National Access Network, the Education Law Center, and Education Voters, and supported by Public Advocates, the Public Education Network, and the Rural School and Community Trust, this year’s conference sought to address the impact of the national recession on educational opportunities in addition to featuring the annual round up of the states on developments in adequacy litigations and advocacy initiatives, litigators' workshops, and a diverse range of breakout sessions.

Following the introductory comments of Amanda Broun, Senior Vice President of the Public Education Network, Michael Rebell, Executive Director of the National Access Network, provided opening keynote address on “Blocking Budget Cuts: Constitutional Perspectives.” Stating that education is generally one of the few affirmative rights in most state constitutions, Rebell emphasized the need for states to focus on adequacy of funding levels, stability of funding , and accountability in order to provide students the rights to a basic quality education that is guaranteed to them under most state constitutions. Providing a great deal of fodder for the discussions that were to take place throughout the conference, Rebell ended his talk by stating that, “Even with all of our problems, we can’t be defensive. We must be affirmative. Equity has remained clear, despite the recession. The law is clear. The constitution doesn’t take a holiday during the recession. The strategic national interest is clear: we must continue to properly educate our kids.”

Following Mr. Rebell’s remarks, attorneys, and advocates from each of the states represented at the conference gave brief updates regarding recent policy and legal developments with regard to the status of litigations, budget cuts, use of federal stimulus money, education reform, and community organizing. This session provided an opportunity to discuss the pressing concerns that each of the states are facing and allowed participants to develop an overall perspective on equity and adequacy issues throughout the country. Concerns over budget cuts and stability of funding were recurrent themes throughout the presentations.

Following the round up of the states, participants were able to attend any of three concurrent sessions: “Connecting the Public with Elected Leaders to Support Education: Messaging Workshop,” “Advocating the Opportunity to Learn for English Language Learners,” and a litigators’ workshop.

Friday, May 8 began with an engaging and motivating keynote address by the Honorable Terry L. Bullock, a retired Kansas judge who had jurisdiction over both of the two major education finance litigations in Kansas in recent years. Judge Bullock pulled no punches in stating that judges in state court adequacy cases have a constitutional obligation to actively enforce the constitution, including student rights to a suitable education. Judge Bullock’s insights on his thinking in ruling for the plaintiffs and in insisting on prompt, compete compliance by the legislature clearly inspired his listeners to renew their efforts to work toward quality educational opportunities.

Following Judge Bullock’s speech, the conference attendees participated in another set of concurrent sessions on the topics of: “Connecting the Public with Elected Leaders to Support Education: Messaging Workshop,” “Advocating the Opportunity to Learn for English Language Learners,” and “Would Vouchers or Charters Improve Public Education?”

The final round of concurrent sessions, held in the late morning, consisted of sessions on: “Putting it All Together: Building a Legislative Agenda,” “The Federal Stimulus Bill and ESEA Reauthorization: Pitfalls and Possibilities,” and another litigators’ workshop.

With participants noting how helpful it was to network with colleagues from around the country and from all around the education community, the 9th Annual Quality Education Conference came to a close.

Read more about the conference in our other stories in this newsletter:

• Blocking Budget Cuts: Constitutional Perspectives

• “Judicial Activism” is Constitutionally Required: A Keynote Message by Judge Terry L. Bullock

• The Federal Stimulus Bill and ESEA Reauthorization: Pitfalls and Possibilities

• Reframing the Debate on Charters and Vouchers