SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell announced today that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded a grant of $100,000 to support the Superintendent's High School Summit, which will be held October 25 and 26 at the Sacramento Convention Center.

The grant will support participation of several nationally renowned speakers who will address raising student achievement in high school, one of O'Connell's top priorities. This year less than 10 percent of California High Schools reached the goal set by the state to achieve proficiency.

"Nothing could be more important than providing our high school students with real opportunities to succeed," O'Connell said. "The Superintendent's High School Summit will enable educators from throughout the state to share best practices and work on ways to increase rigor and achievement in our high schools. And, thanks to the Gates Foundation, they'll hear from some of the greatest minds in the country about ways to overcome the challenges of low-performing high schools."

Summit keynote speaker Bill Daggett, founder of the International Center for Leadership in Education, will discuss raising expectations for all students by combining the concepts of rigor and excellence. Kati Haycock, director of the Education Trust, will feature California high school achievement data that focus on closing the achievement gap. Seven other nationally known education leaders also will speak at the conference.

The Superintendent's High School Summit is presented in collaboration with the State Board of Education, California County Superintendents Education Services Association, California School Boards Association, California Teachers Association, California State University, University of California, and WestEd. For more information about the Superintendent's High School Summit, please visit State Superintendent's High School Summit 2004 - Events.