KU News Release

Kansas educators to gather at KU to discuss No Child Left Behind challenges

LAWRENCE — Educators from across the state will gather June 13 at the University of Kansas to discuss strategy and point an eye toward the future of education. “Strategies for Educational Improvement: No Child Left Behind 2008 and Beyond” is sponsored by the KU School of Education, Kansas State Department of Education and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

“Our hope is to provide support and guidance for K-12 educators on how best to meet the requirements of the No Child Left Behind legislation,” said Rick Ginsberg, dean of the School of Education. “By tapping into the best of what is happening in schools and districts across Kansas, as well as the most current research on topics that can help educators, this conference is designed to aid the work in districts all across the state.”

Education professionals, including teachers, principals, superintendents, university faculty and state and national policy makers will examine the impact of the federal No Child Left Behind Act and discuss ways to better serve students. The day will begin with opening remarks by Chancellor Robert Hemenway, Ginsberg and Alexa Posny, Kansas commissioner of education. U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, D- Kan., will follow with the keynote address.

No Child Left Behind regulations will change beginning in the 2008-09 academic year. Mary Cohen, secretaries regional representative for the U.S. Department of Education, will detail these changes and how they will affect teachers.

Conference participants will also hear a panel of teachers and administrators discuss how No Child Left Behind has impacted their jobs. The panel will be moderated by Andy Tompkins, dean of education at Pittsburg State University; superintendents Rick Atha of the Garden City Public School District, Beth Reust of the Plainville Public School District and Jill Shackleford of the Kansas City, Kan., Public School District; and teachers Sam Rabiola of USD 497 in Lawrence; Lory Mills of USD 260 in Derby; and Jarious Jones of Kansas City, Kan.

The rest of the day will be dedicated to more than 30 sessions presented in three time periods where educators, policy makers and researchers will examine ways to help teachers and schools.

“There is a lot that we can learn from one another,” Ginsberg said. “This conference will bring together many of those having great success in the No Child Left Behind environment so others may learn how best to proceed.”

The day will close with a reception in the atrium of Joseph R. Pearson Hall, home of the School of Education.

Registration is required to attend the conference. To register, or for more information, visit the School of Education Web site.

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The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.