11/3/99

James Robinson, News Service (650) 723-5675; e-mail: jamesrob@stanford.edu

California education secretary to speak at Stanford University

Gary K. Hart, California Secretary for Education, will give a lecture titled "The Current Status of Education Reform in California: A View from the State Capitol" at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, in Cubberley Auditorium at the School of Education. A reception will follow.

The event is free and open to the public.

Hart's talk will focus on state policy for accountability, state education policy making and funding for schools.

Before becoming education secretary, Hart founded and co-directed the California State University Institute for Education Reform, which focuses on education policy work in the fields of teacher recruitment and training, effective classroom practices and charter schools.

He also was a member of the California State Legislature for 20 years representing Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. He served as chair of the Senate Education Committee for 12 years and authored important legislation concerning charter schools, staff development, class size reduction, rigorous academic standards and higher education bond measures.

A graduate of Stanford and Harvard universities, Hart also has been a high school and college instructor.

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