Dr. Gary Phillips Participates in an “Education and the Economy” Policy Forum Hosted by the Library of Congress and Strong American Schools

Washington, D.C. - Dr. Gary W. Phillips, a chief scientist at the American Institutes for Research (AIR), will participate in a forum on “Remaining Competitive in a Flat World: The Crisis in American Education and Its Implications for the Economy.” The Friday, June 27, 2008 event is made possible by The Library of Congress, Strong American Schools and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The non-partisan policy forum at the Library of Congress will explore the relationship between education and the economy and examine data tracking the performance of U.S. students and their international counterparts.

Dr. Phillips is recognized nationally and internationally for his expertise in conducting large-scale education assessments and surveys. He will discuss the findings contained in his recent report, “Chance Favors the Prepared Mind: Mathematics and Science Indicators for Comparing States and Nations,” which provides a comparison of the mathematics and science skills of 8th-grade students in each of the 50 U.S. states with those of their counterparts around the world. The report provides international benchmarks to help states see how their students are doing within a global context.

About AIR

Established in 1946, with headquarters in Washington, D.C., the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is an independent, nonpartisan not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research on important social issues and delivers technical assistance both domestically and internationally in the areas of health, education, and workforce productivity.

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