Information for News Media - Ninth Annual National Charter Schools Conference
Ninth Annual National Charter Schools Conference
Washington D.C. / June 21-24, 2009
Information for News Media
www.nationalcharterconference.org
NEW! Recommended Sessions for Reporters
As you prepare to cover the National Charter Schools Conference June 21-24 in Washington, D.C., we want to highlight a few of the exceptionally interesting breakout sessions you may want to attend. (Of course, you’ll also want to catch Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Gates Foundation US Programs President Allan Golston, DC Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee and NYC Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, but there’s more…)
To make it easy, we’ve identified great breakout sessions in five themes of special interest to the news media: the Obama effect, sustaining the charter school movement (is it possible?), school turnarounds (stories from the field), innovations, and what the research is telling us.
Register free now by calling conference registration services at (202)-521-2833 between 9 am and 5 pm weekdays, eastern time (sorry, there’s no on-line registration for the media).
Click here for the break-out line-up.
Overview
The Ninth Annual National Charter Schools Conference will be held June 21-24 at the Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C. The conference is the single largest annual event in the charter school movement, and will convene this year with the theme “Leading Change in Public Education.” The conference will welcome three of the nation’s most visionary school leaders as keynote speakers: U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, New York City Public Schools Chancellor Joel Klein and District of Columbia Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee. Additionally, President Barack Obama has been invited to address the conference.
As at previous conferences, this year’s will feature more than 125 break-out sessions in six strands. Major topics range from school design and instruction to governance, operations and leadership. As many will be meeting in Washington D.C. for the first time, teachers and school leaders will also use this unique opportunity to share their success stories with their elected representatives in Congress. On June 24, they will participate in the charter school movement’s largest advocacy day ever on Capitol Hill.
News Media Registration
There is no charge for news media to attend the National Charter Schools Conference and all regular sessions – including break-outs - are open. News media must however register by calling conference registration services at (202) 521-6251 between 9am and 5 pm, eastern time. Once registered, news media can pick up a complimentary credential at the convention center. Media can also register on-site at the conference, but pre-registering now will enable you to pick up your credential faster.
News Media Contacts
• Bill Schulz, V.P., Communications
wschulz@publiccharters.org / (202) 521-2828 office / (240) 678-9398 cell
• Sarah Johnson, Communications Manager
sarah@publiccharters.org / (202) 521-2826 office / (202) 210-6527 cell
News Media Facilities
For convenience, Room 304 of the convention center will be a news media working room. Located adjacent to the ballroom in which the general sessions will be held on Monday through Wednesday mornings, the room will be staffed and equipped with tables and chairs, wireless laptop access and refreshments.
Conference Schedule-at-a-Glance
Sunday, June 21
4:00 – 7:00 pm Conference Registration
5:30 – 7:00 pm Welcome Reception - Convention Center 3rd Floor Lobby
Monday, June 22
8:30 – 10:00 am General Session – 3rd Floor Ballroom
Featuring: U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan
D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee
10:15 – 11:30am Breakout Sessions
11:30 am – 1:30pm Lunch and Exhibits – Exhibit Hall
1:30 – 2:45pm Breakout Sessions
2:45 – 3:15pm Break
3:15 – 4:30pm Breakout Sessions
4:45pm – 6:15pm Reception – Exhibit Hall
Tuesday, June 23
8:30 – 10:00amam General Session – 3rd Floor Ballroom
10:15 – 11:30am Breakout Sessions
11:30am – 1:30pm Lunch and Exhibits – Exhibit Hall
1:30 – 2:45pm Breakout Sessions
2:45 – 3:15pm Break
3:15 – 4:30pm Breakout Sessions
Wednesday, June 24
9:00 – 10:00am Advocacy Day Rally (3rd Floor Ballroom)
10:00 – 10:30 am Transportation to Capitol Hill
10:30 – 3:00pm Congressional Office Visits
About Public Charter Schools
Charter schools are independent public schools that are free to be more innovative and are held accountable for improved student achievement. They foster a partnership between parents, teachers and students to create an environment in which parents can be more involved, teachers are given freedom to innovate and students are provided the structure they need to learn. Growing from a single school 17 years ago, public charter schools now serve more than 1.4 million students in 4,600 schools in 40 states and the District of Columbia. This continuing dynamic growth is a testament to the dedication and skill of thousands of school teachers, school leaders and others.
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