House Education Committee puts focus on student-centered policies

Chairman of the House Education Committee, Del. R. Steven Landes, R-Weyers Cave, today convened the second annual House Education Committee Summit, where members of the Virginia House of Delegates will focus on issues that will help ensure the Commonwealth has a strong public education system that produces quality, high-skilled, and well-educated students capable of succeeding in tomorrow’s economy.

The two-day Summit, being held at the University of Virginia (UVA), will feature state and national experts and tackle topics such as early childhood education, public charter schools, higher education, high-performance principal leadership, the condition and needs of Virginia’s public education system, virtual learning, and ways to use student data to produce gains.

“The annual Summit is designed to build capacity and expand our knowledge base on the most recent education matters so we can make sound, informed policy decisions to support our education system,” said Chairman Landes. “The key to our economic success is the strength of our public education system. Therefore, our goal is to provide the quality educational needs for all students to be academically successful, prepared for college and career, and ready to excel in our globally competitive economy.”

UVA and The Hunt Institute, a non-partisan center for educational policy and leadership affiliated with The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, united with Chairman Landes to plan and host the event.

UVA President Teresa Sullivan and former N.C. Governor Jim Hunt, joined Chairman Landes for welcoming remarks, followed by a series of panel discussions and presentations from a number of leading education experts including: Congressman Bobby Scott (D-3^rd), House Ranking Member, Committee on Education and the Workforce; Anne Holton, Va. Secretary of Education; Dr. Billy Cannaday, president, Va. Board of Education; Barry DuVal, president and CEO, Va. Chamber of Commerce; Aimee Guidera, executive director, Data Quality Campaign; Nina Rees, president and CEO, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools; and a host of principals, superintendents, higher education administrators, and legislators.

“This Summit brings together a broad variety of leaders to present unbiased, accurate, and balanced information related to the most pressing issues in education in the Commonwealth,” said President Sullivan. “I am pleased that the University is hosting this important event and helping to lead the conversation.”

The closing keynote on Tuesday will be delivered by James W. Dyke, Jr., former Va. Secretary of Education and chairman of the Blueprint Virginia Subcommittee on K-12 Education and Cheryl A. Oldham, vice president of education policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and vice president of education and the workforce, U.S. Chamber Foundation.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity for us to come together to share knowledge, identify the challenges, and explore new ideas,” remarked Gov. Hunt. “We must continue to drive education and the economy forward – not just in Virginia, but across our nation. Every student deserves to have access to the best, quality public education possible. This is an important conversation, and we are pleased to partner with Chairman Landes and the University of Virginia for this outstanding event.”

For more information on the Summit, and to access materials, visit http://studies.virginiageneralassembly.gov/meetings/292.

Landes represents the 25^th House District, which includes parts of Albemarle, Augusta, and Rockingham Counties. Landes is currently serving his tenth term in the Virginia House of Delegates.