University of Southern Maine

News Releases

National Education Law Conference Held in Portland

July 22, 2005

Nearly 250 lawyers and educators from across the country will be attending the 12th annual Education Law Conference in the Eastland Park Hotel, Portland, Monday, July 25 through Wednesday, July 27. Workshop topics range from No Child Left Behind and the recently amended Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to the legal perspectives of autism and religion in public schools.

Among the over 40 speakers and presenters will be Governor John Baldacci; Assistant Secretary Susan Sclafani, U.S. Department of Education Office of Vocational and Adult Education; and Deputy Assistant Secretary Troy Justesen, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Washington D.C.

The opening session at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 27, will be a high school student performance of a play about teen suicide, "Eulogy for A Sleepwalker," by the Kennebunk New School Players. The play was written by Bill Mastrosimone, the author of "Bang Bang, You're Dead," a play about school shootings performed by high school teens nationwide.Ê

Among the conference sponsors are the University of Maine School of Law, USM's College of Education and Human Development, and the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.

Conference Highlights:

Monday, July 25 - 9 a.m., Ballroom, "The View from Maine," Governor Baldacci. Introduction by University of Maine School of Law Dean Peter Pitegoff.

Tuesday, July 26 - 9 a.m., Ballroom, "The Future of Education: The View from Washington," Susan Sclafani, U.S. Department of Education.

Wednesday, July 27 - 9 a.m., Ballroom, "Eulogy for a Sleepwalker," written by Bill Mastrosimone, performed by the Kennebunk New School Players.

Wednesday, July 27 - 1 p.m., Ballroom, "Special Education: The View from Washington," Troy Justesen, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Washington D.C.

For a complete conference schedule see http://www.edlaw.org/.

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