 Participants
in an educational policy briefing at the National Press Club
on June 12, 2003, discuss issues arising from research findings from
the Montgomery County Public Schools. The research demonstrated
the benefits of full-day kindergarten in high poverty schools
and illustrated the difficult challenges faced by children
who lack appropriate literacy skills prior to kindergarten
— with the academic gap widening significantly by Grade
2.
Jerry D. Weast, superintendent of schools
(third from left), presented the research findings. He focused
on the need for greater literacy development before children
enter kindergarten.
Harvard University researcher Patton Tabors
(second from left) spoke about the implications of research
findings on early literacy and the challenges facing students
learning English in kindergarten through Grade 2.
Harold “Bud” Hodgkinson (left)
of the Institute for Educational Leadership spoke about the
national demographic changes and implications of similar changes
in Montgomery County.
Charles E. M. Kolb (standing), president
of the Committee for Economic Development, moderated the briefing
and spoke about the need for federal and state education policy
to recognize the lessons being learned in Montgomery County.
Also participating were Edward Joyner,
executive director of the School Development Program at Yale
University; and Craig Ramey, director of the Georgetown University
Center on Health and Education.
The briefing was attended by a standing-room
only crowd of researchers, policy makers, government officials,
and others within the national and regional educational community.
The event was co-sponsored by the American Educational Research
Association, the Committee for Economic Development, and the
Institute for Educational Leadership; and underwritten by
a grant from Lockheed Martin Corporation and the Montgomery
County Business Roundtable for Education.
Full
Report on Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills (CTBS) Results
and Analysis | Superintendent
of Schools
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