We are lazy. All we do care about is having a decent job and a home in which to live. That is it. We really don’t care how we get that job or that home (thus the foreclosure crisis). Product means more to us than our children’s education. We buy anything and save nothing.

As a California educator, if we actually cared about our school system, the great people of my state would have kept the system as it was 30 years ago and not have let Prop 13 pass (for California) in ‘78. It was great for the people described in the 2nd graph above. Its consequence was a college system 2nd to none then and laughable now.

It really is that simple.

Though the consequences of poor educational performance may seem remote to many, with little recognizable impact on their daily lives, our national health and prosperity depends on a skilled workforce, vigorous civic institutions and engaged citizens. We believe it is time for a broader mobilization of local, state and national leaders to raise public awareness of the educational challenges we face and how failure to meet them will likely affect our standard of living in the future. We must take seriously our shared responsibility to ensure that all students 좻 regardless of race, income level or zip code 좻 have access to an excellent education.

The Aspen Institute will convene national leaders for a series of frank conversations about the state of American education to underscore the implications of poor to mediocre performance on other areas of our national life cited by voters as most important including: the economy, jobs, security and healthcare. Our National Education Summit will also highlight the importance of working across party lines, and with all sectors of our society, to develop a superior educational system that serves all children well and prepares them for lives of opportunity and productive citizenship.
Confirmed speakers & panelists include (in order of appearance):

Walter Isaacson, President and CEO, The Aspen Institute 〈 Margaret Spellings, U.S. Secretary of Education 〈 Roy Romer, Former Governor of Colorado 〈 Juan Williams, Fox News and National Public Radio 〈 Michael Lomax, President, United Negro College Fund 〈 Joel Klein, Chancellor, New York City Public Schools 〈 Tom Donohue, President & CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce 〈 Tommy Thompson, Former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services 〈 John Podesta, President & CEO, Center for American Progress 〈 Wade Henderson, President, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights 〈 John Engler, President & CEO, National Association of Manufacturers 〈 Byron Auguste, Chairman, Hope Street Group 〈 Ronald Brownstein, Atlantic Monthly 〈 Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers 〈 Kati Haycock , President, The Education Trust 〈 John Deasy , Superintendent, Prince George…s County Public Schools 〈 Beverly Hall, Superintendent, Atlanta Public Schools 〈 Janet Murguia, President & CEO, National Council of La Raza 〈 Sir Michael Barber, Partner, McKinsey & Company and Former Chief Advisor to Prime Minister Tony Blair 〈 David Bradley, Owner, Atlantic Media Company 〈 Vicki Phillips, Director, College Ready Initiative, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 〈 Gene Wilhoit, President, Council of Chief State School Officers 〈 Michael Ortiz, President, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 〈 William Green, Chairman & CEO, Accenture and Chairman, Business Roundtable’s Education, Innovation & Workforce Initiative 〈 Katherine Bradley, President, CityBridge Foundation 〈 Ted Mitchell, CEO, NewSchools Venture Fund & President, California State Board of Education 〈 Michelle Rhee, Chancellor, District of Columbia Public Schools 〈 Michael Feinberg, Co-Founder, Kipp Academy 〈 Jon Schnur, President, New Leaders for New Schools 〈 John Chubb, Managing Director, Edison Learning Institute 〈 Condoleeza Rice, U.S. Secretary of State

Join these national education, business, healthcare, national security, and political leaders for a series of candid conversations about sobering realities, challenges and opportunities including:
• A frank assessment of the condition of American education and prospects for improved performance
• The implications of poor educational performance on other areas of our national life cited by voters as most important including: the economy, jobs, security and healthcare
• Moving beyond conflicting visions to sustain a national will for effective reform
More than talk: Throughout the day, Summit participants will also be challenged to work together to solidify a national commitment to key principles of education reform 좻 accountability for results, transparency on performance and high and measurable expectations for all students. In a special interactive working session, participants will engage in an effort to mobilize the broad and growing consensus behind the important elements that constitute an academic bottom line on behalf of all students.

The event will begin at 8:30am on Monday, September 15 and end with a special dinner program (speakers TBA). You can tune in to the live web cast at http://www.aspeninstitute.org/urgentcallor email us for information at NationalEducationSummit@aspeninstitute.org. You can also add your voice and perspective to this important and timely conversation through the Summit blog (www.aspenedsummit.blogspot.com) which will be providing live “play-by-play” coverage the day of the Summit posting perspectives leading up and following to the Summit. The Summit schedule of speakers and panel discussions can be viewed on the Summit blog at http://www.aspenedsummit.blogspot.com