Florida education commissioner in Finland

SEPTEMBER 23, 2009

Florida Education Commissioner Eric J. Smith is in Helsinki, Finland this week, attending a global education summit as a member of the Council of Chief State School Officers.

The second annual Pearson International Education Summit, sponsored by the Pearson Foundation and the council, is hosting more than 40 international education leaders, says this write-up from Pearson. It is "focused specifically on teacher quality and international best practices for identifying, training, and supporting great teachers." And it is being held in Finland "in the hope that this worldwide delegation can learn from Finland’s own success in preparing its K-12 and university educators to meet the demands of an increasingly inter-connected and technologically advanced workforce."

The Florida Department of Education awarded a 5-year FCAT contract to Pearson - worth up to $254 million - in May.

DOE officials tell the Gradebook the council is picking up the tab for Smith. They said no other DOE officials are attending.

Posted by Ron Matus at 3:49:17 pm on September 23, 2009 in

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