Thursday, April 19

7:30 am - 5:00 pm
Regency Foyer-Ballroom Level

Registration

National Standards 

With the authorization of No Child Left Behind about to begin, many leading education experts and members of Congress of both parties are pushing for national (not necessarily federal) education standards.  Some even advocate that setting these standards should have been the purpose of NCLB with the process of how to get to those standards left up to the state and local education agencies.  The committee will hear the various proposals for national standards and determine whether formal NCSL policy action should be considered.

Presiding:  Senator Jim Argue, Arkansas
Chair, NCSL Standing Committee on Education

Speakers:  Bruce Hunter, American Association of School Administrators, Virginia
Mike Petrilli, Thomas B. Fordham Institute, Washington, D.C.
David Shreve, National Conference of State Legislatures, Washington, D.C.

Renewal of the Nation's Farm Bill:  The Administration's  Perspective

Debate over a new farm bill has begun to intensify.  Secretary Johanns, former governor of Nebraska, will offer the administration's priorities for re-shaping this centerpiece of agriculture and nutrition policy.

Speaker:  The Honorable Mike Johanns, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.

Voting Rights Act Initiative

The launching of a new Office of Civil Rights initiative aimed at states currently covered under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act will be announced.  Other Office of Civil Rights initiatives will be briefly detailed.

Speaker:  The Honorable Wan J. Kim, Assistant U.S. Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.

Steering Committee Meeting

Standing committee officers are encouraged to attend this important meeting.  The committee will review plans for the Forum, preview any policies anticipated for debate, and make determinations regarding joint and re-referral of the policy resolutions if necessary.
 

Friday, April 20

7:30 am - 5:00 pm
Regency Foyer-Ballroom Level

Registration

The New Political Terrain:  The Congressional Perspective (General Session and Breakfast)

The November elections saw the Democrats assume control of Congress for the first time since 1994.  They've begun the session with an ambitious policy agenda, which is tempered somewhat by pledges of bipartisanship and a slim majority in the U.S. Senate.  Come hear a key leader from the new Congressional majority outline their plans for the year.

Speaker:  Congressman Charles Rangel, New York
Chair, House Ways and Means Committee, U.S. House of Representatives

Federal Update and Business Meeting

Education experts will provide an update on federal education issues, including NCLB reauthorization and the federal budget.  Following the discussion, the committee will consider several proposed NCSL education policies. 

Presiding:  Senator Jim Argue, Arkansas
Chair, NCSL Standing Committee on Education 

Speakers: David DeShryver, Brustein and Manasevit Attorneys at Law, Washington, D.C.

 Amanda Beaumont, Office of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold, Washington, D.C.
Yvette Tetreault, Federal Funds Information for States, Washington, D.C.

Preparing Leaders for Learning:  Luncheon and Discussion
(Sponsored by the Wallace Foundation)

The highlight of this luncheon session is a new study by Stanford University and The Finance Project, commissioned by The Wallace Foundation.  This study provides evidence that exemplary training programs produce more diverse principals who are more focused on instruction, feel better about their roles and are more committed to serving high-needs students.  We are learning more about the features and qualities--and the costs--of ensuring that we have effective leadership in every school.

Presiding:  Senator Jim Argue, Arkansas
Chair, NCSL Standing Committee on Education 

Speakers and Panelists:  Linda Darling-Hammond, Charles E. Ducommon Professor of Education, Stanford University, California
M. Christine DeVita, President, The Wallace Foundation,
New York
Augusta Souza Kappner, President, Bank Street College of Education, New York
Gene Wilhoit, Executive Director, Council of Chief State School Officers,
Washington, D.C.

Funding Charter School Facilities

Transforming Higher Education:  National and State Activity

Higher education issues will receive significant attention this year nationally and in state legislatures.  This session looks at potential Congressional activity in 2007 and will feature a discussion of the issues states are dealing with.  Members will be given an update on the Spring Summit on Higher Education sponsored by Secretary Margaret Spellings and the activities of the NCSL Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher Education. 

Moderator:  Representative Geanie Morrison, Texas
Vice Chair, NCSL Standing Committee on Education

Speakers:  Kristin Conklin, Senior Counselor to the Undersecretary, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C.
Terry Hartle, American Council on Education, Washington, D.C.
Jeff Michaels, Academy One, Pennsylvania

Preparing Leaders for Learning Reception and Discussion
This reception is co-hosted by NCSL and The Wallace Foundation.

Please join us for a roundtable discussion, a glass of wine and some cheese, with Richard Laine, Director of Education, The Wallace Foundation, and Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond, Stanford University, to follow-up the afternoon's conversation on school leadership.

Steering Committee Meeting

The Steering Committee will review policies reported from the standing committees and determine the calendar for the Saturday business meeting. 

Reception at the Senate Caucus Room in the Russell Senate Office Building.

The Senate Caucus Room in the Russell Senate Office Building, an excellent example of the Beaux Arts style of architectural design, is one of the most historic rooms in the U.S. Capitol complex.  Many of the famous Senate hearings were held there, including those on the Vietnam War, the Teapot Dome Oil Reserves scandal, Watergate, and the Supreme Court nomination of Clarence Thomas.

The Russell building is a short walk from the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill hotel; however, some bus transportation also will be available.  Badges MUST be worn to the reception for admittance.
 

Saturday, April 21

8:30 am - 10:00 am
Regency Foyer-Ballroom Level

General Session and Breakfast
NCSL expresses its appreciation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Women's Legislative Network of NCSL for supporting this general session.

Come hear what two expert pollsters, Kellyanne Conway and Celinda Lake, have to say about the new Congress and their forecast for the 2008 elections.

Implementing Real ID

The Department of Homeland Security recently issued proposed regulations intended to implement the Real ID law.  This is an opportunity to learn about the regulations from the department's perspective and pose questions for the Assistant Secretary.
 

NCSL Business Meeting: Debate and Voting on Policy Statements and Resolutions

Forum delegates will debate and vote on NCSL's policy statements and resolutions passed out of the committees.  All Forum participants are invited to attend.