Center for Rural Policy and Development: Welcome

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Center for
Rural Policy
and Development

600 S. Fifth St., Suite 211
St. Peter, Minn. 56082
(507) 934-7700
(877) RURALMN (toll free)
(507) 934-7704 (fax)

Thanks to all the speakers and participants who made the first Rural Minnesota Forum a success! Educators and policy makers from across the state came together in St. Paul Nov. 15 to hear about the issues and consider new ideas in the area of K-12 education. The Powerpoint presentations given at the forum can be downloaded by clicking on the links in the agenda below.

Every Rural Minnesota Forum follows each new issue of the Rural Minnesota Journal, giving everyone an opportunity to engage with many of the authors and other experts featured and discuss with them the issues presented in the Journal.

Agenda: Educating Rural Minnesota's Children
Nov. 15, 2006, Crowne Plaza, St. Paul

8 a.m.:	Registration and Continental Breakfast
9 a.m.:	Welcome to the Rural Minnesota Forum Dr. Jack Geller, President, Center for Rural Policy & Development Opening Remarks Commissioner Alice Seagren, Minn. Dept. of Education
9:15:	Keynote Address Joe Graba, Co-founder and Senior Policy Fellow, Education/Evolving
10 a.m.:	Enrollment Trends in Rural Minnesota Martha McMurry & Barbara Ronningen State Demographic Office, Minn. Dept. of Administration
10:30:	Morning Break
10:45:	Concurrent Sessions • Closing the Gap on Educational Disparities Dr. Daria Paul Dona, Minnesota State University, Mankato Dr. Jack Geller, Center for Rural Policy & Development Rep. Carlos Mariani, Minnesota Minority Education Partnership • Funding Issues for Rural Schools Dr. Greg Thorson, University of Minnesota, Morris Sam Walseth, Minnesota Rural Education Association Tom Melcher, Minn. Dept. of Education
Noon:	Lunch
1 p.m.:	Concurrent Sessions • New School Models in Minnesota Doug Thomas, EdVisions Inc. Supt. Kim Ross, Houston Public Schools, Houston Virtual Academy Glory Kibbel, Minn. Dept. of Education • Early Childhood Education Policies Dr. Martha Farrel Erickson, University of Minnesota Lynn Haglin, Northland Foundation Barb Yates, Minnesota Early Learning Fund
2:15:	Afternoon Break
2:30:	Policy Panel: Rural Education and the 2007 Legislative Session A discussion of the issues and opportunities for the 2007 session, immediately followed by closing comments. • Sen. LeRoy Stumpf • Judy Schaubach, President, Education Minnesota • Dr. Maryann Nelson, Minn. Dept. of Education • Supt. Greg Vandal, Sauk Rapids Public Schools

We would like to thank our sponsors of the Rural Minnesota Forum on Education:

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