MHPC to host policy luncheon and book signing with Dr. Cara Stillings Candal
MHPC to host policy luncheon and book
signing with Dr. Cara Stillings Candal
PORTLAND – The Maine Heritage Policy Center on Thursday, Feb. 28 is hosting Dr. Cara Stillings Candal, senior fellow and education policy expert at the Pioneer Institute in Boston, for a policy luncheon and book signing event at DiMillo’s on the Water in Portland.
The discussion will focus on the impact of charter schools on public education and Dr. Candal will be available after the luncheon to sign copies of her new book, “The Fight for the Best Charter Public Schools in the Nation.” The policy luncheon starts at 12 p.m. and the book signing begins at 1:30 p.m.
“Policymakers across the country should look closely at Massachusetts,” said Dr. Candal. “While we have built many high-quality charter public schools through strong policy and accountability, we’ve also limited the growth, innovation, and expansion of those schools. I hope this book will help other states figure out how to strike the right balance between growth and quality so as many students as possible can benefit from the option to attend a high-quality charter public school.”
Dr. Candal’s remarks will outline how the combination of autonomy and accountability contributes to a successful charter school program and how Maine can learn from Massachusetts in developing an effective, responsive charter public school system to close socioeconomic achievement gaps across the state.
There are several bills in the Maine Legislature this session that aim to limit or expand access to charter schools for Maine students. Dr. Candal will lend her expertise on the subject to define a path forward for Maine policymakers who seek to improve the quality of education in our public schools.
Dr. Candal has an extensive background in national and international education policy and teacher development, and she is the author and editor of numerous articles and books about No Child Left Behind, school university partnerships, charter schools, and other topics in education. She holds a doctorate in education policy and administration from the Boston University School of Education.
Dr. Candal will be available to speak with media until 2:45 p.m. after the luncheon and book signing.