Temple – State Representative Dianne White Delisi announced today that she will be one of the legislators representing the State of Texas at the 53rd Annual Legislative Work Conference held by the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB). The conference will be held Nov. 18-20 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

"I was honored to be one of the legislators asked by Gov. Rick Perry to represent the State of Texas at this important national education event," Delisi stated. "This will be an opportunity for elected representatives from throughout the Southern United States to compare notes on what works in improving student achievement."

Delisi is scheduled to attend work sessions covering a number of topics ranging from improving high school graduation rates, raising student academic performance at all levels, encouraging more student to go onto college, and the expansion of adult learning activities. The conference itself revolves around the ongoing efforts by SREB member states to satisfy the 12 core objectives of the group's 2002 Goals for Education: Challenge to Lead report.

Delisi found the timing of the current SREB conference to be particularly useful.

"In January the Texas Legislature will be working on better ways to finance our public school system," Delisi said. "The goal of this conference is for each of us to come back with ideas on how to get even more academic performance for each dollar we spend."

The SREB was founded in 1948 at the request of Southern leaders in business, education and government as the nation’s first compact for education. The group now has 16 member states in the Southern United States. Additional information on the SREB can be found at their website at: www.sreb.org. The Challenge to Lead report is at: http://www.sreb.org/main/Goals/2002_Goals_Report.pdf