Chile Education Summit 2010

Education Across the Americas

The Harris School of Public Policy Studies at the University of Chicago and Centro de Estudios Publicos co-hosted an education summit Nov. 22 and 23 in Santiago, Chile, at which scholars and practitioners explored the challenges shared by urban schools across the Americas.

In Chicago, the Harris School, Chapin Hall and the Center for Latin American Studies held a complementary panel discussion in concert with opening events in Santiago. The Chicago panel featured Eileen Rudden, Chicago Public Schools’ Chief of the Office of Specialized Services; Joy Lesnick, a Senior Research Analyst at the Consortium on Chicago School Research; Harris Senior Lecturer Paula R. Worthington, and Harris doctoral student Alejandro Ome.

“Urban education is a very local issue but it’s also an international issue,” says Ellen Cohen, Dean of Students at the Harris School. “Chile and Chicago face tremendously similar education challenges.”

Cities of similar size, both Chicago and Santiago are wrestling with issues such as the effects of charter-type schools and the influences of teachers unions. Both the University of Chicago and Centro de Estudios Publicos have become meeting points for practice and theory.

Among those who appeared via webcast from Santiago were Sarah Kremsner, Chief Performing Officer for the Chicago Public Schools; Nobel Laureate University of Chicago Prof. James Heckman; and Harris School Prof. Susan Mayer, author of several articles and book chapters on the effects of poverty on children. Heckman addressed “Hard Evidence on Soft Skills: The GED and the Problem of Soft Skills in America.” Mayer presented on “Computers in the Classroom: For Better or For Worse?”

Watch the webcast