FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

?

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

John L. Winn

Commissioner of Education

F. PHILIP HANDY,

Chairman

T. WILLARD FAIR,

Vice Chairman

Members

DONNA G. CALLAWAY

R

OBERTO MARTÍNEZ

P

HOEBE RAULERSON

KATHLEEN SHANAHAN

Contact Information:

LINDA K. TAYLOR

Holly Radcliffe

(850) 245-0509

MEMORANDUM

K12Conference@fldoe.org

TO:

District Superintendents

K-12: 2006-61

District Assistant Superintendents

Principals

FROM:

Cheri Pierson Yecke, Ph.D.

DATE:

May 3, 2006

SUBJECT: 2006 K-12 CONFERENCE AND INNOVATION FAIR

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

I am pleased to announce that the 2006 K-12 Conference will be held October 3-6, 2006, in

Orlando. This year’s conference is being presented in conjunction with the Florida Education

Foundation and will focus on (1) innovative approaches to improving achievement at the middle

grades (6-8), including K-8 schools; and (2) secondary public school career, collegiate, and

magnet academies. I have expressed the goal of enhancing rigor at the middle level, and

Commissioner Winn has stated his goal for every secondary public school in Florida to have an

academy by the 2009-2010 school year. This conference will be one of the first steps in

highlighting the state’s best model academies and programs to other schools looking to

implement such programs of their own. We invite district staff to attend and encourage schools

to bring a team that includes administrators and teachers.

General session speakers include Mike Feinberg of KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program), a

nationally recognized middle school model for improving student achievement that has been

featured on Oprah and in TIME Magazine (www.kipp.org), and Kati Haycock of The Education

Trust (www.edtrust.org). Governor Bush and Commissioner Winn have also been invited to join

this exciting conference opportunity.

CHERI PIERSON YECKE, PH.D.

CHANCELLOR, K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS

325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0509 • www.fldoe.org

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2006 K-12 Conference

May 3, 2006

Page Two

On Wednesday, October 4, an Innovation Fair will commence where 50 of Florida’s schools

with model academies will exhibit their programs. Schools chosen to exhibit at the Innovation

Fair will also present break-out sessions about their program on the same day. The Call for

Proposals for Innovation Fair exhibitors/presenters is enclosed and is due

June 1, 2006

.

Break-out sessions will continue on October 5 and 6 with presentations by districts and others,

who will share their knowledge as it relates to the implementation of secondary (6-12) reform.

This Call for Proposals is also enclosed and is due

July 15, 2006

.

All events will be held at the Caribe Royale Orlando. Rooms will be held in the “Florida

Department of Education K-12 Conference” block until September 13, 2006, with rates

beginning at $135. Reservations can be made by calling (407) 238-8000 or (800) 823-8300.

Please visit www.fldoe.org/k12/conference/ for conference information. Registration will be

available on this site after June 1. There is a $100 non-refundable registration fee for all

participants. Regular registration will end September 13, 2006; however, late and on-site

registration will be available for a fee of $150.

Our Department is pleased to host this event for your staff and schools as we strive to ensure that

every student is prepared for college or a career when they graduate from Florida’s public school

system.

CPY/hr

Enclosures