On July 23rd, the South Carolina New Democrats partnered with ED in '08 and the Creative Coalition to sponsor the Education Reform Forum and luncheon just before the YouTube Presidential Debate in Charleston.

The panel discussion was moderated by Lawrence O'Donnell, a producer of the television series The West Wing. Several state leaders on education reform participated in the Forum including SC New Democrats founder and former Secretary of Education Richard Riley, Charleston Major Joe Riley, SC New Democrats President Phil Noble, former State Superintendent of Education Inez Tennenbaum, State Senators Gerald Malloy and John Matthews and SC Poet Laureate Marjory Wentworth.

Over 175 people attended the event to hear new ideas and innovative solutions for the future of education in South Carolina and the US.