Show Details
Charters, Magnets, and Choice: Expanding Options for America’s Parents - Tuesday, February 19, 2002
Time: 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM ET
Related Resources
“Parents, armed with options and choice, are best equipped to ensure that their children get the highest quality education possible.”
– U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige
One of the key components of “No Child Left Behind” is expanding parental choice – giving parents the ability to make choices to ensure that their children receive the best education possible. Many believe that when parents can choose which schools their children attend, education will improve.
Nowhere is the strong connection between school accountability and parental choice more evident than in the school choice movement. New research shows that school districts are changing their educational services and operations in response to the creation of charter schools in those districts -- suggesting that competition can play a positive role in helping to improve all public schools. Additionally, magnet schools offer a wide range of choices of distinctive programs that have served as models for school improvement efforts. Studies show that student attendance and participation are higher in magnet schools, as are teacher satisfaction and parental control. The supplemental educational services provisions in “No Child Left Behind” will further empower parents and ensure all children have access to quality learning opportunities. Expanding school choice and supplemental services will provide a substantial incentive for low-performing schools to improve.
The February program will showcase the expanded range of options available to for parents and their children --particularly those children who would otherwise be left behind in low-performing schools. During the hour, Under Secretary of Education Eugene Hickok and his guest panelists will explore the following themes:
- How does school choice empower students and parents?
- What is the impact of school choice on student academic achievement?
- How does competition help improve the public school system?
- What does the research show about the effectiveness of charter and magnet schools?
- What lessons can traditional school districts learn from the charter school experience?
- How can parents and community members begin the process to create a charter school?
- What are some effective practices used in charter and magnet schools that work for students?
- How does customization within a district (magnets, charters, academies, supplemental services) lead to greater student success?
- What role does the business community play in the development of effective choice options?
- What resources are available for developing charters, magnets and supplemental educational programs?
Web Cast and Interactive Feature
To view live or archived webcasts of the Satellite Town Meeting and to submit a question instantly on-line please visit http://www.connectlive.com/events/edtownmeetings/
Disclaimer
Permission: Teleconferences produced by the U.S. Department of Education are in the public domain. Use, duplication, and distribution are free and unrestricted. Thank You !
|
