James B. Hunt, Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy

Convening

In addition to state engagement, the Hunt Institute's other core channel of work is convening; bringing together governors, policy-makers and other leaders in symposia to examine education reform issues. In doing so, the leaders share knowledge, discuss successes and challenges and develop new ideas and potential solutions around those significant issues.

By assembling governors and leaders of education and policy organizations, businesses, foundations and universities, the Hunt Institute helps build partnerships to develop nationwide support for school improvement strategies and initiatives. This also provides a one-of-a-kind forum for these leaders to discuss education issues candidly and privately. As a result, we've been able to identify new information and strategic possibilities and subsequently synthesize them to inform our work and share with our partners.

The Hunt Institute's signature convening program is an annual invitation-only Governors Education Symposium. During the Symposium, governors take part in sessions with leading education and policy experts and leaders from other fields. Feedback from the 22 governors who participated in the December 2002 inaugural event confirms that this is an excellent way for governors to share knowledge on the entire range of education issues. The private nature of the gathering also gives us a more thorough understanding of the governors' interests and needs so that the Institute's ongoing work is better informed.

In November 2003, the Hunt Institute hosted the North Carolina Legislators Retreat in Chapel Hill to discuss education reform and policy issues impacting North Carolina. The Retreat was moderated by Mark Musick, president of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), America's first interstate compact for education. Three national education leaders presented research and engaged lawmakers in candid dialogue. David Grissmer, Senior Management Scientist at the RAND Corporation, presented research showing that North Carolina has significantly improved its educational programs and that the state's progress was evident in test scores of its students across different subjects. Kati Haycock, Executive Director of The Education Trust, discussed ways North Carolina can begin to close the achievement gap between the state's poorest and most affluent students. Dr. Harold Hodgkinson, Director for the Center of Demographic Information at the Institute for Educational Leadership, presented information about the changing demographics of the state's student population and how schools could approach this change. More than 50 NC legislators attend the 2003 Retreat.

"The event provided an incredible opportunity for me to visit with other governors and education experts from across the country. Education reform is at the forefront of governors' agendas, and the discussions helped us refine our ideas. Gov. Hunt was a mentor for many of us in the area of education reform. It's wonderful the institute exists to carry on his ideas and legacy."

Governor Huckabee,
Arkansas