DENVER  -  Governor Bill Owens will host Colorado's first-annual Summit on Quality Teachers for the 21st Century Classroom, which kicks off on April 28, 7:30 p.m., at the Adam's Mark Hotel, and continues April 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Educational leaders from across the state will explore ways Colorado can recruit, train, and retain high quality teachers.

"This is a roll-up your shirtsleeves and frank discussion that will set a direction for reform of Colorado's teacher preparation and licensure systems," Owens said.

The purpose for the Summit is to acknowledge what parents have known all along - that teachers matter. One of the key ingredients of a successful school is excellent teachers who know how to teach the basics and have deep content knowledge of their subject area.

"There is growing consensus among the public and educators that not enough highly qualified teachers are reaching Colorado's K-12 classrooms," Owens said. "Colorado's student assessment program is high stakes for students and schools that do not perform well -- but without high performing teachers, student achievement will lag and schools won't measure up."

The Summit will include addresses by local education leaders such as former Governor Dick Lamm and Senator Norma Anderson as well as national education leaders including the Director of the Education Trust Kati Haycock, Stanford University Professor Linda Darling-Hammond, and University of Missouri Professor Michael Podgursky.

Among the participants will be UNC President Hank Brown, Commissioner Bill Moloney, CCHE Director Tim Foster and representatives from the education community - teachers, school board members, deans, chancellors, superintendents, and principals from across Colorado.

Among the questions to be discussed at the Summit include:

• Is requiring prospective teachers to have a bachelor's degree plus an additional year of teacher education classes the best approach to attracting talented individuals?

• Do Colorado's teacher exams measure the right knowledge and ensure that teachers demonstrate subject mastery?

• Are teachers being taught how to teach the basics - reading, writing, math, science - or do college education programs emphasize too many process skills?