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Storied Education Landscape Greets Democrats in Denver

The setting for the Democratic National Convention is a state with a recent history of education that has been defined by geography, populist tax reform, and one of the worst U.S. school shootings ever.

The Aug. 25-28 convention at the Pepsi Center and Invesco Field in Denver will draw thousands of delegates, political professionals, and journalists as the Democrats nominate Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois—and his vice-presidential pick.

The lineup of speakers includes stars such as former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, a candidate for U.S. Senate from that state and the convention’s keynoter, and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., who lost the prolonged primary fight to Mr. Obama. Union leaders Reg Weaver of the National Education Association and Randi Weingarten of the American Federation of Teachers are expected to speak from the podium on Monday night. The teachers’ unions, which have both endorsed Sen. Obama, are accustomed to having an influential presence at the Democratic convention. This year, the NEA will be represented by more than 200 delegates and the AFT by 135, out of a total...