Education Commission to hold public meetings in Texas

March 9, 2001

AUSTIN, Texas—-->Distinguished panelists to engage public in discussion of ways to improve high schools and prepare students for success in postsecondary education

WHO:

• Susan K. Sclafani, counselor to the U.S. Secretary of Education
• Jacquelyn Belcher, president of Georgia Perimeter College and vice chair of the
• National Commission on the High School Senior Year
• John Stevens, panel moderator and executive director of the Texas Business and Education Coalition
• Don Brown, Texas Commissioner of Higher Education
• Jim Nelson, Texas Commissioner of Education
• Uri Treisman, professor of mathematics and director of the Charles A. Dana Center at The University of Texas at Austin
• Jim Ketelsen, founder and chairman of Project GRAD
• Jeff Shadwick, president of the Houston Independent School District Board
• Frances Wawroski, principal of Martin High School in Laredo
• Ray Marshall, Rapoport Centennial Chair Emeritus at UT Austin and former U.S. Secretary of Labor
• Joe Randolph, statewide coordinator of the Texas Scholars Program
• Steve Palko, member of the Tarrant County Workforce Development Board
• Lt. General (Retired) Pete Taylor, chairman of the Military Child Education Commission
• Felipe Alanis, assistant vice chancellor for Academic Affairs in the University of Texas System
• Richard Fonte, president of Austin Community College

  Invited: Henry Cuellar, Texas Secretary of State
  Juliet Garcia, president of The University of Texas at Brownsville

WHAT: The second of the National Commission on the High School Senior Year's five public meetings; questions and feedback will follow panel discussions from the audience. Hosted by the Charles A. Dana Center of The University of Texas at Austin in partnership with Houston I.S.D. and the Texas Business and Education Coalition.

WHEN: Friday, March 23, 2001 at 9 a.m.

WHERE: The Commons Auditorium
J.J. Pickle Research Campus, University of Texas at Austin
10100 Burnet Road, Building 137
Austin, TX 78758

The National Commission on the High School Senior Year is holding a series of public meetings to address the concern that students graduate from high school inadequately prepared to succeed in postsecondary education and, in turn, today's economy. The report of preliminary findings released in January 2001, "The Lost Opportunity of Senior Year: Finding a Better Way," is available on the commission's website at www.commissiononthesenioryear.org. After conducting five public meetings across the country, the commission will release a final report of recommendations in June 2001.

Created last year, the National Commission on the High School Senior Year consists of a highly respected, diverse group of individuals and represents a unique public-private partnership among the U.S. Department of Education, the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation. Governor Paul E. Patton of Kentucky serves as chair of the commission and Dr. Jacquelyn M. Belcher, president of Georgia Perimeter College, is the vice chair. The 30 commission members include educators, administrators, college presidents, political leaders, a student and a parent.

CONTACT: Janis Guerrero, Charles A. Dana Center, (512) 232-2264
Or by e-mail at janisg@mail.utexas.edu