AFT's QuEST Conference Focuses on 'Five P's': Problems, Promises of NCLB, Presidential Politics, Professional Development

6/30/2003

From: Janet Bass of the American Federation of Teachers, 202-879-4554

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- The American Federation of Teachers' biennial QuEST educational issues conference, which will bring about 3,000 teachers and other educators to Washington, D.C., will focus on the "five P's" -- the problems and promises of the No Child Left Behind Act, presidential politics, and professional development.

QuEST will take place July 10-13 at the Washington Hilton. Reporters are welcome to cover all plenary sessions and the scores of workshops. The majority of workshops will focus on closing the achievement gap, making high standards work in the classroom, creating an orderly classroom, improving the secondary school experience, redesigning schools to raise achievement, special education, supporting teacher quality, and teaching reading.

Highlights of the QuEST (Quality Educational Standards in Teaching) Conference:

-- Thursday, July 10, 1 p.m.: AFT President Sandra Feldman will open the conference with a keynote speech focusing on the problems and promises of the No Child Left Behind Act.

-- Thursday, July 10, approximately 2:30 p.m.: Presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) will address the audience and take questions. This is expected to be his campaign's first major speech on education.

-- Friday, July 11, at 9 a.m.: New York University Research Professor of Education Diane Ravitch will discuss the themes of her new book, "The Language Police: How Pressure Groups Restrict What Students Learn." During the lunch hour, D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton will read from a book about her life, "Fire in my Soul." Also on Friday, the annual state-by-state teacher salary survey will be released. Reporters should receive an embargoed copy by July 7.

-- Saturday, July 12, at 9 a.m.: A panel of educators will explore successful professional development programs.

-- Sunday, July 13, at 11 a.m.: Betsy Rogers, the 2003 Teacher of the Year, will be the plenary speaker. She hails from Alabama.

Reporters should contact the Public Affairs Department for more information. Press credentials will be distributed at the Washington Hilton, in the AFT Press Office, starting Wednesday afternoon, July 9.

AFT represents more than 1.2 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty; nurses and other healthcare workers; and federal, state and local government employees.