Colorado has made great strides in educating its young people to higher levels of achievement. A big part of that success has been the result of strong leaders like Sen. Michael Bennet, who, as Denver superintendent, worked closely with parents and teachers, advocacy organizations like Stand For Children, foundations such as the Daniels Fund and business leaders from every corner of the state. The collective might of all of these partners is beginning to make a real difference for public education in the Centennial State.
You would think by now I would be numb to the complaints about No Child Left Behind. After all, the law's been on the books for nearly a decade now. But here we are, debating many of the same questions, at the heart of which is the soft bigotry of low expectations. At what point will we have the courage to call out those who shamelessly believe poor and minority kids can't learn and get serious about holding the very school systems that our hard-earned tax dollars support accountable for the education of America's young people?
U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s President of the Forum for Policy Innovation Margaret Spellings; Kentucky Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Dave Adkisson; Knoxville Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mike Edwards: Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Kelly J. Brough; Florida Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mark Wilson; and Texas Association of Business President and CEO Bill Hammond; issued the following statement today following Senate introduction of legislation reauthorizing No Child Left Behind:
DENVER, CO—Margaret Spellings, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Forum for Policy Innovation, traveled to Austin, Texas and Denver, Colorado this week to urge business leaders to vigorously engage in education reform, citing the current economic situation and the urgent need for an educated and skilled workforce in today’s global economy.
This is the first of a series of posts former U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings is writing for The Huffington Post over the next few weeks through back-to-school season on U.S. Education.
This is the second of a series of pieces former U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings is writing for The Huffington Post over the next few weeks through back-to-school season on U.S. Education.
WASHINGTON — The bitter debate taking place in the nation’s capitol over increasing the taxes paid by the rich to help with the debt ceiling and the budget deficit overshadowed an important meeting President Barack Obama convened on education that drew attendance by a range of business interests.
This month's newsletter includes a discussion of education data systems and their use in helping to target resources, improve instruction, and respond to other education challenges in our nation's schools--all actions that are critical to improving student learning.
For years, business has been content to stay above the political fray of school improvement, happily delivering dollars to educational leaders when called upon. But if business is truly serious about driving reform, it needs to recognize that it is uniquely positioned to step up in more consequential ways than donating supplies or sponsoring scholarships. Business leaders have specific expertise when it comes to evaluating performance, streamlining costs in tough times, and building data systems — issues that educational leaders across the country are currently wrestling with.
If nothing changes, by 2020, there will be 123 million high-skill, high-wage jobs in the United States, with only 53 million people qualified to fill them. That’s according to Margaret Spellings, senior adviser to U.S. Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Thomas Donohue. Spellings spoke today at the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s annual business summit and annual meeting at the Louisville Marriott Downtown.
The Institute for a Competitive Workforce will hold its annual education and workforce summit on September 17 & 18 at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC. Details to come.
