Bismarck, N.D. – Lt. Gov. Jack Dalrymple and members of the Governor’s Commission on education Improvement will be in Austin, TX, June 30 to receive the 2008 Frank Newman Award for State Innovation presented by the Education Commission of the States (ECS). The award recognizes excellence in state education policymaking. The commission is being honored for its work in successfully addressing funding equity for North Dakota’s school districts.

Dalrymple will be joined by Rep. Rae Ann Kelsch, Williston Public Schools Superintendent Warren Larson and North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders Executive Director Doug Johnson. Kelsch, Larson and Johnson are ECS commissioners representing the state of North Dakota, with Kelsch also serving on the organization’s executive committee.

“It is very gratifying for the Governor’s Commission on Education Improvement to be recognized for its hard work,” said Dalrymple. “The reforms that came as a result of the commission’s efforts were substantial, and it’s nice to see education leaders from across the country recognize these accomplishments.”

The commission is being recognized for its effective and diplomatic approach to policymaking in response to a lawsuit filed against the state for inequitable and inadequate school funding. Unlike education finance settlements in other states, the group used a method of consensus rather than litigation and paved the way for passage of a landmark K-12 education funding bill for the state.

“I am honored and humbled to be recognized by a national organization like ECS,” said Kelsch. “Frank Newman had a great influence on innovation in education in this nation. Now North Dakota is recognized for an innovative approach to equity and our innovation will serve as a model for other states.”

“Assuredly the key to the commission’s success was the hard work of the often times dissimilar groups at the table,” said Larson. “At each meeting, all titles were put aside and left at the door. Sleeves were rolled up and work was done with one single purpose in mind - meeting the needs of the kids of North Dakota.”

“ECS is an important entity that really works hard to advance education in the U.S., and we’re honored that they have recognized the state of North Dakota, specifically the work of the commission to improve equity and adequacy in K-12 education funding,” said Johnson. “The Governor’s Commission worked hard with legislators, school officials and educators to achieve funding equity and to put together legislation that provided serious funding for education in North Dakota.”

In January 2006, Gov. John Hoeven created the commission to make recommendations to the North Dakota Legislature for improving both funding equity and adequacy among school districts. The commission’s work resulted in legislation that reformed the state’s education funding formula for the first time in a generation and added more than $90 million to achieve greater funding equity. The legislation also authorized the commission to continue its work through the 2009 legislative session to address funding adequacy.

The commission is chaired by Dalrymple and comprised of 14 administrators, educators, legislators and education association representatives from across the state.

ECS is the only nationwide, nonpartisan interstate compact devoted to education. ECS helps governors, legislators, state education officials and others identify, develop and implement public policies to improve student learning at all levels. A nonprofit organization, ECS (www.ecs.org) was formed in 1965 and is located in Denver, Colorado.

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