Public education advocate and author Diane Ravitch will speak in Omaha Thursday evening about privatization of schools and whether reforms are making a difference.Ravitch’s presentation is hosted by the Metropolitan Omaha Educational Consortium, which brings together leaders from 12 area school districts. Ravitch’s talk will focus on what she sees as the dangers of privatization and the effect it could have on public schools.
Dick Christie, executive director of MOEC and professor of education at UNO, says metro area public schools are continuing to show improvement.
"Almost without exception, with the reports that are coming out, they’re making great progress in terms of student achievement, working hard to close the achievement gap, and one of the major areas of the Consortium is ensuring that quality educators are being produced."
Christie hopes Ravitch's presentation will spur discussion on issues such as charter schools, school vouchers, teacher pay, and poverty. Ravitch was a U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education in former President George H.W. Bush's administration.
MOEC was founded in 1988. UNO’s College of Education and two Educational Service Units are also part of the Consortium.