2012 "State of Education in Orange County" Event To Address Current Challenges and Outline Drivers of Student Success

COSTA MESA, Calif., Feb. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Orange County Department of Education will present the State of Education in Orange County on Thurs., Feb. 23, 2012, with the theme of "Rethink. Restructure. Rebound."  The event will take place at 7:30 a.m. at the department offices, 200 Kalmus Drive, Bldg. D, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.

Emceed by Lucy Dunn, President and CEO of the Orange County Business Council, the event is designed to increase awareness about how education affects the economic and community well-being of the county.  Keynote speaker will be Orange County Superintendent of Schools William M. Habermehl, who will deliver his annual state of education address. 

"The prosperity of Orange County depends on a skilled, well-educated and diverse workforce. To ensure relevance in a global society, our schools must meet the challenge of preparing students to reach their full potential in the 21st century," Habermehl observed.  "The current economic situation has provided an opportunity for Orange County stakeholders to rethink how best to address the diverse needs of our students, restructure practices to ensure relevance in a global society, and rebound with renewed rigor to provide a world-class education for every Orange County student."

Additional featured speakers will include Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, who will present "A Blueprint for Great Schools" and Ronald W. Bennett, President and CEO of School Services of California, who will provide a presentation on "Fiscal Realities" facing California's education system.

Orange County schools serve more than a half-million diverse students with a wide variety of multicultural, multilingual and socioeconomic needs.  Over 50 percent of those students participate in the free and reduced-cost lunch program, more than 126,000 are English learners, and some 28,000 are homeless.  Issues to be addressed at the event will include leveraging technology, implementation of the state's core standards, wellness and its impact on student success, and reducing dropout rates.

SOURCE Orange County Department of Education