November 28, 2011

School of Education forum will look at ‘Future Directions in Education’ in U.S.

The Johns Hopkins School of Education’s Shaping the Future series, which examines critical issues in education, will host on Monday, Dec. 5, a panel of nationally recognized experts discussing education reform in the United States. “Future Directions in Education: What Will Work Best for Students?” will be held at 6:30 p.m. in Shriver Hall Auditorium on the Homewood campus.

The series is open to everyone, including Johns Hopkins students and alumni, educators, parents and education advocates. The program will include a presentation by panel members and an opportunity for questions and comments from the audience.

Panelists will offer differing views on the reform effort. Michael Yudin, acting assistant secretary in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education in the U.S. Department of Education, will discuss the Obama administration’s approach, which includes support for new national standards in math and reading, teacher evaluations tied to student performance and charter schools. Offering contrasting views will be Michal Petrilli, executive vice president of the Thomas Fordham Foundation, a think tank on education issues, and Deborah Meier, an outspoken critic of the Obama administration’s approach and co-author with Diane Ravitch of an Education Week blog, Bridging the Difference.

Those planning to attend should RSVP to education.jhu.edu/shaping_future.