National Webinar:
How Will Election Results Impact the Education Agenda?
A Post-Election Policy Briefing for Grantmakers

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The results of the mid-term elections are expected to have far-reaching effects on the education reform agenda at federal, state, and local levels. A shift in the power balance in the Senate or House can influence federal legislation such as ESEA reauthorization. It can impact the level of support for the Obama Administration's education platform, including the allocation of funds for signature programs such as Race to the Top, the Innovation (i3) Fund, and Promise Neighborhoods. Moreover, the outcomes of gubernatorial elections in several battleground states are likely to set off renewed debates about such hot-button issues as pay-for-performance, the charter school cap, student test scores, and implementation of the Common Core State Standards. These potential shifts in policy — and political will — can have a profound impact on agencies, school districts, and nonprofit organizations working on the ground to improve education in their communities.

In this interactive webinar, a panel of education policy experts, including foundation practitioners, provide a post-election briefing on the results of key races as well as likely scenarios that will play out on the federal and state levels, with special emphasis on the implications for grantmakers active in the field.

Webinar Facilitator:

• An-Me Chung, Associate Director of Education, Program on Human and Community Development, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Webinar Presenters:

• Danica Petroshius, President and CEO, Policy Strategies and Solutions, a Washington, DC-based firm with expertise in education advocacy and policy
• Vic Klatt, Vice President at Van Scoyoc Associates, Inc., a federal government affairs firm based near Capitol Hill
• Michele Cahill, Vice President, National Program, and Program Director, Urban Education, Carnegie Corporation of New York
• Barbara Chow, Program Director, Education, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
• Jamie Merisotis, President and Chief Executive Officer, Lumina Foundation for Education, Inc.

Following the presentations, a Q & A session offers participants the opportunity to ask questions and weigh in on the issues and strategies for moving forward.

This webinar is presented as part of the Foundation Center's Foundations for Education Excellence initiative, made possible through generous support by the C.S. Mott Foundation. We also thank the Council on Foundations, the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, Grantmakers for Education, and the Philanthropy Roundtable for their assistance with this effort.