When you register at the Representative Assembly, don't forget to pick up one of those bright orange DVD/CD cases. It's packed with gavel-to-gavel coverage of last fall's three-day symposium "Every Child Counts: Ending the Gap."

NYSUT's symposium in October drew more than 400 educators, business leaders, community activists and parents to explore solutions for ending the gap in achievement between more affluent students and those who live in poor communities. The issue affects every part of the state: urban, suburban and rural

The three DVDs feature videos of keynote speakers, including political commentator Donna Brazile, urban sociologist Pedro Noguera, columnist Richard Rothstein and many others. A CD with a full report summarizing the event is also included, along with an executive summary and 10 themes that emerged from the conference's wide-ranging discussions.

After the conference, participants were invited to offer feedback in an online survey. While results are not scientific, participants clearly identified four priority action items: expanding pre-K and early childhood programs; creating high expectations for all students; improving the federal No Child Left Behind Act; and pursuing parent partnerships.

"This DVD/CD set will help us continue the conversation in meetings with stakeholders around the state," said NYSUT Vice President Kathleen Donahue, who led the symposium. "Ending the gap will take a concerted effort by all stakeholders. We believe these 10 themes offer a strong foundation for next steps."

To learn more about NYSUT's continuing commitment to ending the gap, be sure to stop by the "Gap Zone," located on the 3rd Floor Promenade. The area will be open between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. In addition, a video presentation highlighting the union's "Ending the Gap" initiative is scheduled for Friday afternoon.