FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                   

February 22, 2004

Contact:  Rachel Heald (510) 465-6444

Top California Educators Examine Gap-Closing Strategies and Honor Inspiring Educators at First Education Trust—West Conference

Educators and policymakers, researchers and advocates, community leaders and the press are coming together to learn about gap-closing strategies and to honor inspiring California educators at the first Education Trust-West conference from Sunday through Tuesday. 

"Public education is the key civil rights issue of the 21st century.  It is imperative that we provide all children with a high quality education so that they are prepared to participate in our economy and our society.  The Education Trust-West is providing an important forum for education leaders to share and learn proven best practices to meet this goal.  The Broad Foundation is proud to be a partner in this effort," stated Eli Broad, Founder of The Broad Foundation.

The conference, “Lessons Learned:  Gap Closing Strategies from California’s High-Performing Classrooms, Schools and Districts,” will feature keynote addresses by Congressman George Miller (D-Martinez) – one of the lead authors of the No Child Left Behind Act – and Dr. Sylvia Rousseau, Superintendent from Local District I in Los Angeles Unified School District. 

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell will deliver brief remarks Tuesday following the closing plenary session. 

After Sunday’s opening keynote, the Education Trust—West will honor high-performing California educators with its first “All Kids, All Stars” Awards.  The honorees include six high-performing, high-minority school districts: Fontana Unified, Garden Grove Unified, Long Beach Unified, Madera Unified,  San Diego Unified, and San Jose Unified.

Also honored will be Reed Hastings, member and immediate past President of the State Board of Education, for his inspiring work to help improve California’s public schools. 

The Education Trust—West strives to help schools, districts and the state raise achievement and close gaps in California.   Presentations at the conference will provide educators with concrete solutions that will further this goal and help improve public education for all children. 

"We are at a critical crossroad in educating California's schoolchildren," said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell.  "After years of decline, student test scores have improved for five consecutive years, even as statewide tests become more challenging.  The Education Trust-West has been a leader in the vital task of raising academic standards while focusing on closing the achievement gap.  Their continuing work through forums such as this gives hope to our eventual success.  We owe it to our children to continue raising student achievement, particularly at our lowest-performing schools and, above all, to continue focusing on closing the achievement gap.  The Education Trust-West is helping to make this a reality."

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