November Symposium Will Examine Closing Achievement
Gaps and NCLB
On November 13 and 14, 2006, the Campaign
for Educational Equity at Teachers College, Columbia
University will host a symposium titled “Examining
America’s Commitment to Closing Achievement Gaps:
NCLB and its Alternatives,” in order to substantially
advance the national conversation about educational
equity through solid scholarly research.
This fall’s symposium, the second in the Campaign’s
annual symposium series, will explore in depth precisely
what “eliminating achievement gaps” means
both conceptually and in concrete terms. The symposium
will consider fundamental questions, such as how far
achievement gaps can actually be narrowed by school-based
efforts and reforms and to what extent more one must
take into account comprehensive efforts to address the
range of socio-economic factors that detrimentally affect
children’s readiness to learn.
Because public policy in this area is increasingly
being driven by the mandates of the federal “No
Child Left Behind” Act (NCLB), the discussion
will also address the general structure and specific
impact of NCLB. With NCLB up for reauthorization in
2007, recommendations for NCLB revisions and related
reforms will be of immediate relevance. Although many
proposals on how to amend NCLB have already been made,
a scholarly analysis of the fundamental educational,
economic and public policy issues underlying the current
political debate will be a major contribution to the
growing national conversation on educational opportunity
and student achievement gaps.
Presenters and panelists at the event include some
of the most distinguished members in the field, including
Professor Richard Elmore from Harvard University, Professor
Susanna Loeb from Stanford University, Professor Richard
Rothstein from Teachers College, Professor Diane Ravitch
from New York University, and Dr. Frederick Hess from
the American Enterprise Institute. A full list of paper
topics and presenters can be found at the symposium
website. The symposium will also include breakout
sessions that will provide attendees an opportunity
to react to the topics and recommendations being discussed.
For additional information or to register for the symposium,
please visit: http://www.tc.columbia.edu/symposium.
Prepared by Elisabeth Thurston, September 14, 2006
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