Our friends at the Drum Major Institute are hosting a panel discussion on access to pre-school education next Monday, October 30.
The featured speaker is Oklahoma State Senator Penny Williams. Author of the 1998 law to fund pre-school for all Oklahoma four-year-olds, Senator Williams established a program of high-quality early childhood education that ranks first in the nation in student access and enrollment rates. Serving 95 percent of the state’s school districts, the Oklahoma program has demonstrated a significant positive impact on children’s math and vocabulary skills. A long-time champion of education at all levels, Senator Williams retired in 2004 after 24 years of service in the state legislature. The discussion following Senator Williams’ presentation will focus on how the Oklahoma experience might apply to New York.
Other panelists include:
Hon. Christine Quinn, Speaker of the New York City Council.
Nancy Kolben, Co-director, Winning Beginning NY Campaign, Executive Director of Child Care, Inc., the leading child care policy and advocacy organization in New York City.
Lorraine Cortes-Vasquez, Vice President of Government and Public Affairs, Cablevision Systems Corporation. Member of the New York State Board of Regents.
Details: Monday, October 30, 8:00-10:00 am at the Harvard Club, West 44th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues)
RSVP to: dmi@drummajorinstitute.org
