EVENT SUMMARY: On September 19, 2000, NEGP chair Gov. Tommy Thompson (R-WI), NEGP member and State Representative Mary Lou Cowlishaw received testimony from educators and practitioners in Florida, Kentucky, Georgia, Wisconsin and Texas in the third of four field hearings about state and local efforts to achieve standards with all students. The Atlanta hearing focused on changing school structures to help all children achieve high standards.


Panel One

Presenter: Dr. Stephen R. Portch, Chancellor University System of Georgia
Topic: "The Georgia Pre-School-Post Secondary (P-16) Initiative"
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Dr. Portch will discuss the Georgia Pre-School-Post-Secondary (P-16) Initiative which is a statewide collaborative effort aimed at raising expectations and ensuring student success from preschool (P), through post-secondary education (16) and into the workforce. The Georgia P-16 Initiative includes three areas of work: alignment of expectations, curriculum, and assessment of students; improving teacher quality and providing supplemental programs for 7th-12th grade students in at-risk situations, who would benefit from extra support in order to be prepared for post-secondary education.

Panel Two

Presenter: Dr. Allen Odden, Professor, University of Wisconsin
Topic: "Teacher Pay for Performance Agreements"
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Dr. Odden will speak about the benefits of implementing knowledge and skills-based pay (KSBP) and school based performance awards for teachers. Although current education reform seeks to double or triple education results by greatly increasing the number of students who perform proficiently on academic achievement tests, the current teacher salary schedule has no element directly linked to student academic performance.

Panel Three

Presenter: Dr. Charles Goodlett, President, Kentucky Office of Family Resource & Youth Services
Topic: "Addressing Family Needs through the School Setting"
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As Director of the Family Resource and Youth Service Centers (FRYSC) in the Kentucky Cabinet for Families and Children, Dr. Goodlett oversees the most comprehensive school based, state funded human services program in the county. Dr. Goodlett will focus on the necessity of allowing flexibility in the development of local centers. He will also emphasize the importance of providing appropriate, quality training and technical assistance.

Presenter: Dr. Sharon Darling, President, National Center for Family Literacy
Topic: "Addressing Family Needs through the School Setting"
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Ms. Darling, founder of the National Center for Literacy (NCFL), is internationally recognized as the leader in the field of family literacy. NCFL stresses the critical role of parents in their child's education and the need to provide all parents with necessary skills and knowledge to be involved. Ms. Darling with be presenting on the organization's Family Literacy Program and the critical role that public and private partnerships have played in national replication of the program.

Panel Four

Presenter: Susan Lehrman, Principal, Miami Springs Elementary School
Horace Sinclair, Flight Instructor, Miami International Airport
Mildred Smith
Topic: "Miami-Dade Public Schools Satellite Learning Center
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The Miami International Airport (MIA) Satellite Learning Center takes an innovative approach to the concept of community school. The MIA Satellite Learning Center is a public school, subject to the same standards and regulations as other Miami-Dade public schools, but is for the children of MIA Aviation Department employees. The twelve-year old Learning Center is located at the airport, which gives parents and children the unique opportunity to spend their days on the same grounds. This setting encourages increased parental involvement in the school and a greater awareness of their children's learning process and progress.

Panel 5

Presenter: Dr. Maria Robledo Montecel, Executive Director of the Intercultural Development Research Association
Topic: "Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program"
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Dr. Montecel will be presenting on the Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program, an internationally recognized cross-age tutoring program created by the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA). Since its inception in 1984, the program has kept 7,700 students in school, who were previously at risk of dropping out. The program works by placing junior high and high school students, who are at risk of dropping out, as paid tutors for younger students. Valued Youth Program tutors consistently report that they feel better about themselves and their prospects. They also improve their grades and stay in school.