Community leaders discuss education, work force issues

Participants at a recent education symposium hosted by UNT took a first step toward the goal of creating "seamless education."

Topics such as eliminating the high school dropout rate, creating a standards-based curriculum across grade levels to promote seamless education from one education level to the next, and successful teacher recruitment and retention were identified as areas of greatest concern.

The symposium's more than 100 participants included directors of Metroplex and minority chambers of commerce, community college and university representatives, the Dallas Citizens' Council, policy-makers at both the local and state levels and educators from area preschool through 12th grade schools.

One of the keynote speakers was Kati Haycock of the Washington, D.C.-based Education Trust, which advocates standards-based curriculum across the grade levels of education. She presented national data on student achievement by subject and by ethnicity in the United States with international comparisons. Issues raised by the data she provided included high school and college dropout rates, consistent transitions from between curriculums to career paths of students, and the difference between the depth of teacher preparation and the students' need for skilled instruction.

Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Mike Moses challenged participants to look ahead 30 years in assuring the future of the North Texas economy, which he said is inextricably linked to education. Welcoming the involvement of higher education in working alongside PK-12 schools, he emphasized the current and continuing need for well-prepared teachers. He said attracting the people needed to teach students mathematics, science, special education and bilingual education – the areas of highest shortage — will require collaboration at a level not seen before.

Symposium participants worked in small groups to design plans for action to address challenges raised by the keynote speakers. Participating school districts, community colleges, universities, regional education service centers, chambers of commerce, and policy and community organizations also committed themselves to continue to work collaboratively.

Other featured articles in this issue

• UNT inaugurates 13th president
• Texas Legislature approves bill creating UNT-Dallas
• Faculty Senate approves grading change
• UNT to help improve Internet2
• Faculty, staff recognized at Honors Day celebration
• UNT researcher to conduct time-of-day testing on schizophrenia patients
• Staff Council discusses smoking, beautification issues
• Rancher offers a new field of dreams for stargazers

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