January 24, 2008
University Of Miami School Of Education Hosts Education Expert Henry Levin on Investing In The Future Of Education
Coral Gables, Fl. (January 24, 2008) – The University of Miami School of Education will host “The Financial and Social Returns on Educational Investment,” a forum with Henry Levin, a noted educator and specialist in the economics of education and human resources, who is William Heard Kilpatrick Professor of Economics and Education at Columbia University’s Teachers College.
UM President Donna E. Shalala will moderate the discussion which will include Dean of the UM School of Education Isaac Prilleltensky, Rudolph F. Crew, Superintendent of the Miami Dade County Public Schools and Eric. J. Smith, the Florida Education Commissioner.
"This event will bring together great minds in education to discuss the return on investment in education,” said Dean Prilleltensky. “How we treat our children in the early years and throughout their school years is vital to what they will become in the later years. Creating enriching environments for our children greatly benefits our society and decreases drop out rates, crime and health issues.”
The forum begins with a 5:30 p.m. reception and will be followed by the presentation at 6 p.m. on Thursday, January 31 at Storer Auditorium, 5250 University Drive on the Coral Gables campus.
Levin, who has published 16 books and many articles on the economics of education, is also the director of the National Center for the Study of Privatization of Education, a non-partisan group that provides independent analysis on education.
His latest book “The Price We Pay: Economic and Social Consequences of Inadequate Education” explores the relationship between educational success and critical indicators such as income, health, dependence on public assistance, crime and political participation. It demonstrates that specific educational interventions for at-risk youth are not only socially effective, but also economical.
Following the presentation by Dr. Levin, Miami’s business, government and educational leaders are invited to a private dinner discussion to hear about a new initiative to determine the economic benefits of investments in young children, prenatal to age five.
Sara Watson, the director of The Partnership for America’s Economic Success (PAES) will speak about how investing in young children so they grow up to be successful is not only the right thing to do, but also the fiscally prudent thing to do. For more information on PAES, log onto on to Partnershipforsuccess.org
The dinner at the McLamore Dining Room is by invitation only. Members of the press are invited to listen to the presentation but dinner is limited to invited participants.
Event sponsors include The Children’s Trust, Early Learning Coalition of Miami Dade/Monroe, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, The Melissa Institute for Violence Prevention and Treatment, Southwest Airlines, United Way Center for Excellence in Early Education, University of Miami Citizens Board and the University of Miami Department of Psychology/Institute of Education Sciences.
Please call Marsha Talianoff for additional information at 305-284-5038.
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The University of Miami is the largest private research institution in the southeastern United States. The University’s mission is to provide quality education, attract and retain outstanding students, support the faculty and their research, and build an endowment for University initiatives. www.miami.edu
Media Contact:
Bárbara Gutiérrez
bgutierrez@miami.edu
305-284-5500
