Providence, R.I. - This weekend, Governor Lincoln D. Chafee will travel to North Carolina to attend the 2012 Governors Education Symposium, titled "Advance America: A Commitment to Education & the Economy." The two-day conference, conceived by the James B. Hunt, Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy, brings the nation's Governors together to engage in candid dialogue about critical challenges facing education.
This year's symposium will focus on the skills required to be successful in a global economy and how states can both implement changes to meet those standards and evaluate their progress. The conference will address the impact of these new challenges on school curricula as well as teaching styles.
Each conference session will examine a variety of core education issues, incorporating information from nationally recognized experts. The symposium affords participating Governors extensive opportunities to interact with the assembled experts and share practices from their home states.
Governor Chafee has maintained his dedication to strategic investment in education in his proposed fiscal year 2013 budget. Building on last year's budget, the Governor has committed to fully funding the second year of the funding formula, devoting nearly $40 million in additional funding to K-12 education. Governor Chafee has continually emphasized the critical connection between an educated workforce and a strong economy.
The conference will take place on Sunday and Monday, and the Governor will return to Rhode Island Monday evening.
About the James B. Hunt, JR. Institute for Educational Leadership & Policy Created by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors in 2001, the James B. Hunt, Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy works with leaders to secure America's future through quality education. Working at the intersection of policy and politics, the Hunt Institute connects leaders with the best strategies for developing and implementing policies and programs to improve public education.