TPERF : : Education Summit


Washington Mutual Statewide Education Summit, March 22-23, 2004
The Summit is a partnership of Washington Mutual and the Texas Public Education Reform Foundation. Our purpose is to promote public education innovation and improvement and to provide a forum for dialogue among key stakeholders in education reform. Those participating in the Summit included 275+ attendees from major businesses, teacher associations, education service centers, the State Board of Education, the Texas Education Agency, the Comptroller’s office, statewide organizations, Parent Teacher Association, Texas Workforce Commission, Governor’s Business Council, State Board of Educator Certification, chambers of commerce, policymakers, school districts, board of trustees, public policy groups and higher education. Dr. Rod Paige, U.S. Secretary of Education, gave the keynote address on Monday evening, March 22. Governor Rick Perry was the keynote speaker for Tuesday’s luncheon. There were eight sessions on Tuesday that included School Finance Reform, What Texans Are Saying About Education, Next Steps of School Reform, Improving Parental Engagement, Hispanic Dropout Prevention, Education and Business Needs in Texas, Retaining Qualified Teachers, Analyzing Texas School Performance. The School Finance Reform panel consisted of Senator Florence Shapiro, Representative Kent Grusendorf and Representative Harold Dutton. Commissioner Shirley Neeley, Texas Education Agency, gave closing remarks.

Click Here To Download Grissmer PowerPoint Presentation






U.S Education Secretary Rod Paige and Tracy Baskin, Washinton Mutual.

Paige addresses Texas education reform group – Associated Press
Austin – U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige told a Texas education reform group Monday night that education should be viewed as a social service that can address many social problems. In his address to the Texas Education Reform Foundation, Paige offered his suggestions to improving the quality of education as the state embarks on its own education overhaul. Paige, former superintendent of Houston schools, pointed to a recent study that shows young men without proper educations are more likely to be in prison, on probation or on parole. Improving education, he said, can “improve economic development and improve the social fabric of a community.” Through local partnerships, all parts of the community, not just parents, can benefit from helping to improve the quality of education, he said.