State Legistlative Leaders Foundation
Preparing the leaders of today for the challenge of tomorrow
2008 Education Summit
Educational Leadership: An Agenda for Economic Prosperity
Asheville, North Carolina, March 6-9. 2008
Legislative and Corporate Leaders Learn a Thing or Two at SLLF Education Summit!
"This was a superb program in both defining problems and identification of possible solutions. The focus on dropout prevention was particularly effective. The opening presentation by Kati Haycock was especially compelling and established a necessary context."
- Hon. Martin Looney, Senate Majority Leader, Connecticut
The first weekend in March more than 30 state legislative leaders from 22 states gathered in the mountains of North Carolina to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing education in America. Led by former North Carolina Governor James B. Hunt, Jr., (1977-1985; 1993-2001) and an all-star cast of nationally recognized experts, program participants explored various ways to address three key problems in education: declining educational achievement, a growing achievement gap between majority and minority students and the daunting rate of students who do not complete high school.
To open the program, Governor Hunt explained the undeniable link between educational attainment and economic success, both individually and corporately for a state’s population. He was followed by Katie Haycock, President of the Education Trust, who offered a sobering, but hopeful picture of American education in the 21st century. Following these overviews, the sessions turned to more specific issues, with the first panel offering information on the importance of high standards and holding teachers and schools accountable for their performances. Following lunch, participants discussed the importance of asking the correct questions and gathering the right information - you can’t figure out where you are going if you don’t know where you're at!
The final session on Friday explored strategies for keeping students in schools, featuring Beverly Hall, Superintendent of the Atlanta Public Schools and architect of one of a most impressive system turnaround. On Saturday, participants were honored with inspirational words form The Honorable Howard Lee, Chairman of the North Carolina Board of Education and a panel discussion, led by The Honorable Bob Wise, former Governor of West Virginia (2001-2005) on efforts to get high school drop outs to “drop in.” Finally, The Honorable Joe Hackney, Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, concluded the program by charging every legislative participant to go back home and work on implementing at least one idea from the program and encouraging each corporate participant to explore how their companies might assist in this effort.
Calendar
August 18 - 22
Transatlantic Leadership Forum
Dublin, Ireland
Sept. 30 - Oct. 3, 2010
SLLF Leadership Summit
Democracy 2.0:
Connecting with the 21st Century American
University of Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts
December 3 - 5, 2010
SLLF Board Meeting /
Leadership Forum
(SLLF Directors and Advisory Council members)
Las Vegas, Nevada
January 13 - 16, 2011
New Speakers Orientation
March 31 - April 3, 2011
SLLF Issues Summit
UNC Chapel Hill, North Carolina
June 23 - 26, 2011
SLLF Leadership Summit
Notre Dame University
South Bend, Indiana