Education summit begins in Whitefish

The Daily Inter Lake

A statewide education summit under way in Whitefish is scrutinizing the connection between the federal government and K-12 education.

"The Federal Government's Role in K-12 Education: Who Wins? Who Loses?" is the topic for the Montana Summit, sponsored by the University of Montana.

National education and policy leaders are taking part in the summit, held at Kandahar Lodge on the Big Mountain through Friday.

This morning, Susan Frost, senior adviser to former Education Secretary Richard Riley, delivers a presentation titled, "Why Did the Federal Government Become More Involved in K-12 Education?"

This afternoon, Patricia Chlouber, regional representative for the education secretary, will present "The Current Role of the Federal Government in K-12 Education."

Group discussions are after both talks.

On Friday morning, participants will examine what role the government should play during the future. A DVD of the session will be distributed to educators and policy-makers nationally.

UM School of Education Dean Paul Rowland kicked off the summit with a dinner speech Wednesday evening, in which he discussed how the government's role in education relates to educators, policy-makers, parents, the business community and taxpayers.

Participants include David Mathews, former secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare; Russlyn Ali, director of Education Trust West; Charles Coble, vice president for policy for the Education Commission of the States; David Beaulieu, National Indian Education Association president; Krista Kafer, former Heritage Foundation senior analyst; and many others.

The first Montana Summit, developed by UM Provost Lois Muir and the academic deans, was held during 2003 to discuss governance of public lands.