The Center for Education Reform celebrated its 20th Anniversary on Wednesday, October 9, 2013 with an intensive conference and spectacular gala. As one observer remarked, “The Washington Hilton ballroom was filled with a who’s who of education reformers on both the local scene and national stage.” The conference included a series of panel discussions with some of the nation’s leading experts on topics concerning the contentious relationship between schools and teacher unions, gaining allies in the legislative process, best practices in innovation and the challenges facing the movement in minority communities. Following the release of CER’s national poll results at the conference was a black-tie awards gala, where William J. Bennett, Yvonne Chan, Barbara Dreyer, The Gleason Family Foundation, Deborah McGriff and Michael Moe were awarded the distinguished “EdReformies” for their ongoing work on behalf of students and parents. We’re pleased to share some highlights from Education Reform: Before it was Cool and the RatPack Edreformies. We would also like to thank our donors and sponsors, whose generosity and commitment to education reform made this event possible.

Note from CER Founder & President

(excerpts from the Keynote Address)
When I started CER it was with a singular purpose – “to expand access to and restore educational excellence in our Nation’s schools.” To do that I needed a plan, some resources, people and partners… It was a new age for education reform and we found lots of accomplices willing and ready to go, and buoyed with a sense of clear urgency, commitment and passion…

And now here we are 20 years later. The work has not been easy. Success is never easy. But it’s the most rewarding thing I will have ever done. Days became weeks, which became years. Plans and ideas became proposals and strategies…

Every generation has its talents and dreams, its unique selling points, vantage points and talking points. This generation is leading our best schools, our foundations, our research organizations – and it will be better at it than mine. They are more relentless in mission and yet more cooperative; they are patient – yet resolute. They are focused – but fun…

Don’t get me wrong – and let me just be clear – this next generation – you are ready, but we helped you get here. We made it cool to come to the party. We took the lumps, and the arrows. (We) built the foundation of reform and made it possible for others to create and build new organizations and achieve their own goals more quickly…

The foundation of reform was created by people and stories some of you may have never known. That is the purpose and reason for our launching Education Reform University, because history is the best teacher and it’s a handy guide to avoiding repetitive failure, ensuring repetitive success… History is still unfolding and it will continue to be written for years to come. We must know it, understand it and nurture it, or frankly, get the hell out of the room.

It is time to accelerate the pace of reform and use history as our guide.

Sincerely,

Jeanne Allen