A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n

       FOR RELEASE                              Contact: Melinda Kitchell Malico     September 16, 1996                                (202) 401-1008                                              Participant Registration Contact                                                       (800) 203 5494

ST. Louis, San Francisco, Atlanta to Host Improving America's Schools Conferences

"Working Together: All Children, High Standards" will be the theme of three regional conferences, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education this fall. In St. Louis (Sept. 24 to the 26), San Francisco (Oct. 20 to the 22) and Atlanta (Nov. 20 to the 22), area educators and others will focus on ways to improve schools, using resources available under several federal education laws.

"The most critical work to improve teaching and learning is accomplished at the grassroots level -- in classrooms, libraries, schools and communities," said U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley. "At a time of record enrollments, schools must become partners with families and communities just as the federal government must work in concert with local counties and state officials.

"We at the U.S. Department of Education are committed to working as a partner with schools and communities to help advance locally developed school improvement plans by providing support, technical assistance and flexibility. Only through building partnerships can we hope to realize our common goal of providing America's children with a solid foundation of skills and knowledge."

Riley will present the nation's challenges and opportunities to improve American education at each conference, either in person or via satellite. Also scheduled to appear at one or more of the conferences are:

Carolyn Warner, chairman of the board, United Methodist Foundation, former Arizona commissioner of education;
Wendy Pureifoy, president, Public Education Network, a community foundation that supports health, housing, educational and cultural programs;
George McKenna, lifelong educator whose leadership as principal of an inner city Los Angeles high school became the subject of a television movie; and,
Asa Hilliard, professor and lecturer on education and equity.

The three day conferences will feature a variety of general assembly sessions, topical workshops, regional and state working meetings, and program specific technical assistance workshops.

Thousands of area teachers, parents, state and local program managers, school administrators, technology leaders, and representatives from service agencies, higher education and business who direct and work with federally funded education programs will attend and discuss ways to work jointly to promote comprehensive school improvement. They will also examine ways to better coordinate and integrate state run programs authorized under several federal education laws, including the Improving America's Schools Act and the Goals 2000 Educate America Act.

The five major conference themes are:

Pulling the Pieces Together for Student Success --: bringing all aspects of the school system (federal programs, instruction, standards, assessments, administration, school environment, parental and community involvement) together to support high standards for all students;
Improving Teaching and Learning --: promoting effective uses of technology, high quality professional development for teachers and the recruitment of minority teachers;
Building Partnerships --: how parent involvement and community partnerships can strengthen local schools, and how federal programs can help strengthen state and local education reform efforts;
Focus on Excellence --: directing school improvement efforts to the common goal of achieving equity and excellence for all students; and,
Flexibility to Make a Positive Difference --: advancing school improvement efforts through increased flexibility, by offering waivers, charter schools and school wide improvement programs;

In addition, department representatives from programs administered by the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs, the Office of Vocational and Adult Education, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, and the Office of Educational Research and Improvement will attend and work with conferees.

The conference schedule is as follows:

Sept. 24 to the 26, St. Louis, The Adam's Mark Hotel
Oct. 20 to the 22, San Francisco, Hyatt Regency Airport Hotel
Nov. 20 to the 22, Atlanta, Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel

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