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[STK]
[IN] EDU
[SU] BLK CHI TDS
TO EDUCATION, AND NATIONAL EDITORS:
Black Alliance for Educational Options to Host 14th Annual BAEO
Symposium in New Orleans, LA
WASHINGTON, March 17, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Black
Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO) is excited to host the BAEO
Symposium 2014 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana,
March 20 - 22. With nearly 700 parents, educators, school
administrators, elected officials, clergy, emerging leaders and other
education reform advocates, the BAEO Symposium will fill three days
with focused conversation designed to inform, inspire, and empower.
"We're excited to bring yet another year of dynamic content and
experiences that will help participants bring high-quality educational
options to low-income and working-class families in their
communities," said BAEO President, Kenneth Campbell. "We will be
joined by education reform leaders like Dr. Steve Perry, Dr. Rod
Paige, Pastor Marvin Sapp and Kati Haycock who will help us get about
the work of moving our agenda forward."
The theme at Symposium 2014 is "Seize the Opportunities". The
conference will encourage the information exchange between advocates
working to bring greater educational options to their communities.
"So often I hear people talk about how our kids are our future. NO,
our kids are here right NOW. We must radically change the systems of
education to meet the needs they have TODAY. They will ultimately
define their own futures and it is our responsibility to ensure they
get the education they need to make that future bright," said Howard
Fuller, Board Chair, BAEO. "Our Symposium is just one of the sparks
that helps to sustain the flame of 'urgency now' for our children."
Highlights of the concurrent sessions are:
-- New Orleans Education Reform: Promises, Progress, Possibilities
Before Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city in 2005, New Orleans had one
of the worst performing public school districts in the nation. Katrina
forced nearly a million? people to leave their homes and caused almost
$100 billion in damages. In the wake of Katrina, education reformers
decided to seize the opportunity and start fresh with a system based
on parental choice. Today, New Orleans has the most market-based
school system in the United States, test scores are up, and talented
and passionate educators from around the country are flocking to New
Orleans to be a part of the education revolution. Join us for this
interactive community conversation where we discuss the progress that
has been made and how difficult issues such as race, class, community
participation, and power will impact education reform efforts going
forward. Facilitator: Andre Perry,Founding Dean of Urban Education at
Davenport University Presenters: Sharon Clark, Principal, Sophie B.
Wright Public Charter School, New Orleans Patrick Dobard,
Superintendent, Louisiana Recovery School District Neerav Kingsland,
Chief Strategy Officer, New Schools for New Orleans Nolan Marshall II,
President, Orleans Parish School Board Location: Hyatt Regency New
Orleans,Strand 13, Level Two Date: Friday, March 21, 2014 Time:
8:00am - 9:30am
-- Louisiana Scholarship Program: Giving Families Hope and a New
Option? The Louisiana Scholarship Program (LSP) has been a valuable
parental choice option in the state of Louisiana, providing public
funds for low-income students in low-performing schools to enroll in
local private schools. The program has recently come under fire from
the U.S. Department of Justice, making the LSP a great case study in
education reform policy. Participants will analyze the case study to
identify advocacy and policy strategies for use in their home states.
Facilitator: Eric Lewis, State Director, Louisiana BAEO Presenters:
Falesha Augustus, Parent of student in Louisiana Scholarship Program
Vanessa Chavis, Administrator at St. Peter Claver Catholic School
Soraya Hanson, Parent of student in Louisiana Scholarship Program
Lauren Perry, Chief of Staff, Office of Portfolio, Louisiana
Department of Education Location: Hyatt Regency New Orleans, Bolden
6, Level Two Date: Friday, March 21, 2014 Time: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
-- Why Should I Support Common Core?? By debunking myths and
emphasizing facts about how and why Common Core State Standards were
created and the role of the federal government versus the state, this
session will demonstrate how higher standards can benefit Black
children and families. Participants will identify important strategies
to consider as they monitor and advocate for Common Core in their
states. Facilitator: Gerard Robinson, Vice-President, UniversityNow
Presenters: David Adkisson, President & CEO, Kentucky Chamber of
Commerce Michael Cohen, President, Achieve Kati Haycock, President,
Education Trust Location: Hyatt Regency New Orleans, Bolden 3, Level
Two Date: Friday, March 21, 2014 Time: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Contact for Questions: Tanzi West Barbour at tanzi@baeo.org or visit
www.baeo.org.
About BAEO: BAEO is an advocacy organization whose mission is to
increase access to high-quality educational options for Black children
by actively supporting transformational education reform initiatives
and parental choice policies that empower low-income and working-class
Black families. BAEO was founded in 2000 and champions parental choice
policies and programs that serve low-income and working-class Black
families, but is equally focused on promoting quality to ensure that
Black students have access to high-performing schools. BAEO envisions
a future where low-income and working-class Black families are
empowered to choose a high-quality primary and secondary education for
their children that enable them to pursue the college or career path
of their choice, become economically independent
SOURCE Black Alliance for Educational Options
-0- 03/17/2014
/CONTACT: Tanzi West Barbour, National Director of Communications, E: tanzi@baeo.org, P: (202) 253-6233
/Web Site: http://www.baeo.org
CO: Black Alliance for Educational Options
ST: Louisiana
IN: EDU
SU: BLK CHI TDS
PRN
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0000 03/17/2014 13:00:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
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