Pitt Learning Policy Center to Present a Lecture March 3 by Richard Rothstein of the Economic Policy Institute

PITTSBURGH-The University of Pittsburgh's Learning Policy Center (LPC) will present a lecture by Richard Rothstein from 2:30 to 4 p.m. March 3 in 5604 Posvar Hall, 230 S. Bouquet St., Oakland. The lecture, "Getting Accountability Right," is part of LPC'S 2008-09 colloquium series, Excellence and Equity in an Era of Accountability.

A research associate of the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, D.C., Rothstein was the national education columnist for the "New York Times" from 1992 to 2002 and a visiting professor at Teachers College, Columbia University from 2003 to 2006. He also is the author of many books, including "Class and Schools: Using Social, Economic, and Educational Reform to Close the Black-White Achievement Gap" (Teachers College Press, 2004), "The Way We Were? Myths and Realities of America's Student Achievement" (Teachers College Press, 1998), and "The Charter School Dust-Up: Examining the Evidence on Enrollment and Achievement" (Teachers College Press, 2003). Rothstein is a board member of the American Education Research Association and often lectures about educational policy issues. He earned his B.A. degree at Harvard University.

Based on his newest book, "Grading Education: Getting Accountability Right" (Teachers College Press, 2008), Rothstein's lecture will focus on a new kind of accountability plan for public education that relies on higher-quality testing and professional evaluation. Rothstein argues that public schools should be held accountable for effectively spending the funds with which they have been entrusted. He believes that a school's progress should not only be measured with basic math and reading scores, but also should ensure that students have basic knowledge and skills, an ability to think critically, an appreciation for the arts, physical and emotional health, and preparation for skilled employment.

The LPC's colloquium series aims to facilitate an informed discussion among researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and university students, faculty, and staff around current national and local educational policy issues. The lectures are free and open to the public, but an RSVP is required. To RSVP, visit www.learningpolicycenter.org or contact Julia Kaufman at lpc@pitt.edu.

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