"No Child Left Behind" Town Hall Meeting at Ohio Dominican

November 1, 2004

Nel Noddings to Speak at "No Child Left Behind" Town Hall Meeting at Ohio Dominican University

COLUMBUS, OHIO - Dr. Nel Noddings, distinguished author and educator, will speak about the requirements and impact of the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation at a Town Hall Meeting hosted by Ohio Dominican University. The event will be held on Wednesday, November 17, 2004, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in The Little Theatre in Erskine Hall on Ohio Dominican's main campus, 1216 Sunbury Road, Columbus.

Nel Noddings is among the leading figures in the field of Educational Philosophy. She is Professor of Philosophy and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and Lee L. Jacks Professor of Child Education Emerita at Stanford University.

Dr. Noddings will provide an overview of NCLB requirements and a perspective on the challenges and results of the first few years of implementation. Panel Members will include:

• Ben Marrison, Editor, The Columbus Dispatch (affiliate of WBNS-TV, WBNS Radio, Ohio News Network)
• Dr. Mitchell Chester, Assistant Superintendent of Policy and Accountability, Ohio Department of Education]
• Rhonda Johnson, President, Columbus Education Assoc. (representing teachers in Columbus Public Schools)
• David Kindinger, Principal, Dana Elementary (Columbus Public Schools)
• Dr. Thomas Lasley II, University of Dayton; Dean of School of Education and Allied Professions

The Town Hall Meeting is free and open to the public. Teachers, parents, administrators, media, and others attending will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in a discussion with the speakers.

NCLB is the federal legislation reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. As a condition of receiving federal funding for public elementary and secondary schools, NCLB requires:

• High academic standards in English, mathematics, and science
• English & mathematics assessments, using standards-aligned tests annually in grades 3-8 and once in grades 10-12
• Science assessment at three grade levels, using tests aligned with standards Highly qualified teachers
• A ccountability for student achievement as measured by the assessments through schools' demonstration of adequate yearly progress (AYP)
• Report cards on schools

Since President George W. Bush signed NCLB into law in January 2002, reactions to the legislation have ranged from strong support to adamant opposition. Proponents of the law commend the focus on establishing high standards and holding school personnel accountable for student achievement. Opponents maintain that the accountability standards are unrealistic and charge that the federal government has not provided adequate resources to schools to comply with NCLB.

The public forum in Columbus is one in a series sponsored across the country by the Kappa Delta Pi (KDP) International Honor Society in Education, the National Academy of Education (NAE), and the National Society for the Study of Education (NSSE).

KDP is a 55,000-member community of scholars dedicated to recognizing scholarship and excellence in education, promoting the development and dissemination of worthy educational ideas and practices, and fostering inquiry and reflection on significant educational issues.

NAE is an honorary membership society of outstanding education scholars and others whose work has had a significant impact on the education field. The Academy seeks to advance the highest quality education research and its use in policy formulation and practice.

NSSE is an organization of education scholars, professional educators, and policy makers dedicated to the improvement of education research, policy, and practice. NSSE investigates problems, disseminates its findings, and engages the education community in discussion and discourse.

For more information regarding the event, contact Kappa Delta Pi Headquarters at 1-800-284-3167. Free parking is available in the Visitors Lot west of Sunbury Road. NO RSVP REQUIRED.