-PLENARY SESSION BEGINS-
Exhibit Hall, Concourse Level

Welcome & Introduction of U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige
Dr. Susan Sclafani, Acting Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Education

Morning Keynote Address
"Preparing America's Future: Challenges, Issues, and Possibilities For America's High Schools and American Youth"
U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige

DISCUSSION: Leadership In Setting The Agendas For High Schools
Introductions: U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige
Dr. James Pughsley, Superintendent, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Hon. Ted Stilwill, President-Elect of the Council of Chief State School Officers, Iowa Director of Education
Dr. Cheri Yecke, Minnesota Commissioner of Education

"The Social And Educational Imperative For Creating High Expectations For All"
Kati Haycock, Director, The Education Trust

DISCUSSION: High Expectations: Hearing From The Students
Moderator: Ann Duffett, Senior Vice President, Public Agenda
Kelvin Alejo, Student, Banana Kelly High School
Gina Rodriguez, Student, The Metropolitan School
Nestor Tejada, Student, Banana Kelly High School
Lindsay Ullman, Student, Corning-Painted Post West High School, Student Chair of National Association of Student Councils Board

"What Works and What's Hopeful About High School Improvement"
Dr. Grover (Russ) Whitehurst, Director, Institute of Education Science, U.S. Department of Education

-BREAK-

-WORKING LUNCH-

DISCUSSION: Setting Higher Expectations - Panel I
Moderator: Dr. Susan Sclafani, Acting Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Education
Dr. Gene Bottoms, Senior Vice President, Southern Regional Education Board
Rob Mosbacher, President, Mosbacher Energy Company, Co-Chair for The Center for State Scholars
Jim Shelton, Program Director, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

DISCUSSION: Setting Higher Expectations - Panel II
Moderator: Hans Meeder, Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Education
Karen Daniels, Headmaster/Principal, Excel High School
Dr. Charlesetta Deason, Principal, DeBakey High School For Health Professions
Irasema Salcido, Founder and Principal, Cesar Chavez Public Charter HS for Public Policy

Wrap up and Summary
Dr. Eugene Hickok, Acting Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Education

-PLENARY SESSION ENDS-

Session 1: "Setting Higher Expectations for Graduation"
Theme: Setting High Expectation and Accountability
Georgetown West Room

Moderator: Dr. Susan Sclafani, Acting Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Education
Sheila Byrd, Director, American Diploma Project
Eduardo Garcia, Project Manager, National Council of La Raza
Dr. Amelia Maurizio, Chairperson, Partnership for 21st Century Skills Granger Ward, California State Director, AVID

Session 2: "Mathematics and Science Skills, Building the Foundation for High Expectations"
Theme: Setting High Expectation and Accountability
Caucus Room (Terrace Level)

Moderator: Pat O'Connell Ross, Team Leader, U.S. Department of Education
Dr. Heather Hill, Research Scientist, University of Michigan
Dr. William Schmidt, University Distinguished Professor, Michigan State University
Dr. James Stigler, CEO, LessonLab, Professor of Psychology, UCLA

Session 3: "New Models for 21st Century High Schools" (part 1) Theme: Creating Options and Engaging Students
Monroe West Room

Moderator: Mike Petrilli, Associate Deputy Under Secretary, U.S. Department of Education
Gretchen Rhines Cheney, Senior Associate, National Center on Education and the Economy
Linda Clarke, Executive Director, Houston A+ Challenge
Dr. James Connell, President, Institute for Research and Reform in Education
Julie Young, Executive Director, Florida Virtual School

Session 4: "Reading Skills, Building the Foundation for High Expectations"
Theme: Setting High Expectation and Accountability
Lincoln West Room

Moderator: Chris Doherty, Director of Reading First, U.S. Department of Education
Dr. Don Deshler, Director, Center for Research on Learning, University of Kansas
Dr. Ted Hasselbring, Author, READ 180, Professor, University of Kentucky
Dr. Peggy McCardle, Associate Chief, Child Development and Behavior Branch, NICHD, National Institutes of Health
Alta Shaw, Director of Training/Co-Director for Instruction, Center for Social Organization of Schools, Johns Hopkins University

Session 5: "Recruiting and Supporting High School Teachers and Leaders"
Theme: Create World Quality Teaching and School Leadership
Lincoln East Room

Moderator: Ron Tomalis, Acting Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Education
Buffy DeBreaux-Watts, Director of Marketing and Outreach, American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence
Steve Gering, Executive Director of Instruction, Kansas City Kansas Public Schools
Jonathan Schnur, CEO and Co-founder, New Leaders for New Schools
Dr. Gerald Tirozzi, Executive Director, National Association of Secondary School Principals

Session 6: "System Alignment - The Disconnected K-12 and Postsecondary Education Systems"
Theme: Making a Smooth Transition to Postsecondary Education
Georgetown East Room

Moderator: Todd Jones, Associate Department Secretary for Budget and Strategic Accountability, U.S. Department of Education
Dr. Phil Day, Chancellor, City College of San Francisco College, Director, National Articulation Transfer Network
Cheryl Orr, Senior Communications Associate, Indiana Commission for Higher Education
Jan Somerville, Senior Associate, National Association of System Heads

Session 7: "Accountability: Putting the Spotlight on Improvement with Data"
Theme: Setting High Expectation and Accountability
Georgetown West Room

Moderator: Celia Sims, Special Assistant, U.S. Department of Education
Dr. Gene Bottoms, Senior Vice President, Southern Regional Education Board
Brad Duggan, President, National Center for Educational Accountability
Dr. Jim Horne, Florida Commissioner of Education

Session 8: "Ensuring Success for High School Students with Disabilities"
Theme: Creating Options and Engaging Students
Georgetown East Room

Moderator: Dr. Robert Pasternack, Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Education
Debra Hart, Education Coordinator, Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts
Dr. Margo Izzo, Project Director, Nisonger Center, Ohio State University
Mike Purkey, Executive Director, Lower Shore Enterprises Incorporated

Session 9: "Creating Secondary and Technical Education Excellence"
Theme: Creating Options and Engaging Students
Lincoln West Room

Moderator: Hans Meeder, Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Education
Dr. Charlene Connolly, Provost, Medical Education Campus, Northern Virginia Community College Educational Foundation
Gary Kidd, Director of High School Programs, The Central Educational Center
Steve Ovel, Executive Director, Governmental Relations, Career Edge, Kirkwood Community College
Jean Stevens, Assistant Commissioner, New York State Education Department

Session 10: "New Models for 21st Century High Schools"(part 2)
Theme: Creating Options and Engaging Students
Monroe West Room

Moderator: Dr. Stefanie Sanford, Senior Policy Officer, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Ed Capodanno, President, Associated Builders and Contractors, Delaware Chapter
John P. Foley, S.J., President, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School
Mary Ann Hawthorne, Superintendent, NYC Department of Education
Ron Kindell, Tech Prep Director, Sinclair Community College
Josh Laub, Principal, Banana Kelly High School
Dr. Dennis Littky, Co-Principal, The Metropolitan High School (The Met), The Big Picture Company

Session 11: "Serving Lower-Achieving Students through Credit-Based Programs"
Theme: Making a Smooth Transition to Postsecondary Education
Lincoln East Room

Moderator: Sally Stroup, Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Education
Dr. Thomas Bailey, Director, Institute on Education and the Economy, Teachers College/Columbia University
Dr. Nancy Hoffman, Vice President, Jobs For The Future
Aaron Listhaus, Principal, Middle College High School at Laguardia Community College
Dr. Laurance Warford, Project Director, College and Career Transitions
Initiative, League for Innovation in the Community College