WHEN: Thursday, March 18, 9 a.m.

WHERE: Arkansas State Capitol, Old Supreme Court, second floor

SPEAKERS: Dean Reed Greenwood of the College of Education and Health Professions;

Gary Ritter, director of the Office for Education Policy; and Sen. Jim Argue

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — At a news conference in the state capitol, the UA College of Education and Health Professions will introduce the Office for Education Policy, established to provide educators and legislators in Arkansas with resources and consultation about current education policy issues. Reed Greenwood, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions, will introduce Gary Ritter, assistant professor of education leadership and public policy and director of the office, at 9 a.m., Thursday, March 18, in the Old Supreme Court, second floor of the State Capitol. State Sen. Jim Argue will also speak.

Following the news conference, Ritter will make a presentation to the Joint Committee on Education of the Arkansas General Assembly on the resources and expertise available through the Office for Education Policy. He will suggest ways in which the office can support legislators in making decisions concerning public education in the state.

"Dr. Gary Ritter’s research has examined significant questions in education and public policy," Greenwood said. "The Office for Education Policy will focus expertise and resources on the complex issues of education policy and reform in Arkansas."

"The Office for Education Policy looks at key educational issues through the lens of academic research," Ritter said. "It can help education leaders and lawmakers in Arkansas bridge the gap between research and practice."

Opened in fall 2003, the Office for Education Policy is one of several research and service centers within the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas. The office is a resource for state legislators, educators and administrators, providing them with current research in education to support them in policy development. It offers newsletters, policy briefs, Web-based resources, research and consultation about current education policy issues.

The office’s print and electronic materials and consultation are available to any interested citizen, through its Web site, http://www.uark.edu/ua/oep/, or by contacting the office at oep@cavern.uark.edu or (479) 575-3773.