Type: Public event
Host: Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy, Education Policy Initiative, Ford School, Nonprofit and Public Management Center
Series: CLOSUP Lecture Series, Policy Talks @ the Ford School

Kids v. Adults: How Politics and Policy Conspire to Leave Children Behind

Date & time

Mar 26, 2012, 4:00-5:30 pm EDT

Location

Weill Hall

Free and open to the public.

Join the conversation: #fordschoolspellings

Lecture by the Honorable Margaret Spellings,
Former U.S. Secretary of Education (2005-2009)

Abstract: The seminal education law known as No Child Left Behind put critical pressure on our schools to dramatically improve education in America. Through accountability, testing, and consequences for failure, a more targeted focus on our neediest students has translated into measurable success for them. Since the law's passage ten years ago, we've learned much, including that more progress won't be made until we, as a nation, tackle the toughest issues: the use of people, time and valuable taxpayer dollars in more strategic and effective ways. Therein, lies the rub; will adults—policymakers, educators and parents—put the needs of students before their own? You be the judge as we discuss these urgent policy matters and the political dynamics at play.

Margaret Spellings is President and CEO of Margaret Spellings and Company and a leading national expert on public policy. Spellings also serves as a strategic advisor to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and President of its U.S. Forum for Policy Innovation. As well, her work includes guiding philanthropic and private sector organizations in meeting their strategic goals. From 2005 to 2009 Spellings served as the U.S. Secretary of Education, overseeing an agency with a nearly $70 billion budget and more than 10,000 employees and contractors. Prior to serving in the Cabinet, Spellings was the Chief Domestic Policy Advisor to the President of the United States of America from 2001 to 2005. Although Spellings arrived in Washington in 2001, the Lone Star state is still home. While in Texas, she served as a senior advisor to then-Governor George W. Bush of Texas and in various strategic roles for the Texas Legislature. She also served as associate executive director for the Texas Association of Schools boards. From the White House and the Statehouse to the school board and college campus, Spellings has been involved with education policy at every level.

Sponsored by: the Education Policy Initiative (EPI) at the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP), Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, School of Education and NonProfit and Public Management Center. EPI is a program of coordinated activities designed to bring the latest academic knowledge to issues of education policy.