LAWMAKERS TO OFFER SCHOOL FINANCE REFORM UPDATE AT STATEWIDE EDUCATION SUMMIT

AUSTIN, Texas (May 16, 2005) — Three state lawmakers who are involved in current legislative efforts to revise Texas’ current system of funding public schools will participate in a panel discussion Wednesday (May 18) at the Statewide Education Summit held in Austin.

The panel discussion will feature State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio), Rep. Kent Grusendorf (R-Arlington) and Rep. Harold Dutton (D-Houston). The presentation will be at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday at the at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 208 Barton Springs Road in Austin. It is open to the press.

The panel is part of a two-day summit intended to promote public education innovation and improvement and to provide a forum for dialogue among key stakeholders in education reform. The Statewide Education Summit is sponsored by the Texas Education Reform Foundation and Washington Mutual.

Later on Wednesday morning, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst will speak on “Improving the Quality of Public Education” at 9:35 a.m. Texas Governor Rick Perry will deliver the keynote luncheon speech at 11:45 Wednesday.

All Statewide Education Summit events are open to the press and will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 208 Barton Springs Road in Austin.

The Summit will open at 7 p.m. Tuesday (May 17) with a dinner featuring keynote speaker David Dunn, chief of staff to U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings. Also at the dinner, the Texas Education Reform Foundation will present its “Education Achievement Award” to former U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige.

In addition to speeches by Governor Perry and Lt. Governor Dewhurst, other Wednesday (May 18) events will include a presentation by Tom Luce, chairman and founder of the National Center for Educational Accountability, on “Using Assessment to Showcase Excellence and Promote Successful Practices” at 8:55 a.m.

Other panel discussions on Wednesday will address the need to strengthen state accountability systems, redesigning high schools, teacher compensation, and how Texas students compare with national trends in student assessment.

For more information on the Statewide Education Summit, please contact Elizabeth Burgoyne at (469) 358-6335.