National Charter Conference 2009 - Recap

A record 3,400 charter school teachers, principals, administrators and others from around the country met in Washington D.C. for the Ninth Annual National Charter Schools Conference. The theme of the 2009 Conference "Charter Schools: Leading Change in Public Education," was reflected in every moment of the three-day event. Highlights included speeches from national education leaders (including Education Secretary Arne Duncan!), a schedule that featured 125 excellent break-out sessions, and, on the final day, the largest advocacy effort on Capitol Hill in the movement's history.

Day One - June 22, 2009 ›

At the opening general session, seventh grade student Matthew Austin from Washington D.C.'s Howard University Public Charter Middle School of Mathematics and Science kicked off the conference with a stirring speech introducing his teacher, D.C. Schools Teacher of the Year Kimberly Worthy. Ms. Worthy proudly introduced U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan for the opening keynote address. Secretary Duncan's remarks were followed by speeches from Allan Golston, the President of the U.S. Program of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and from District of Columbia Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee. The session concluded with an outstanding performance by KIPP DC AIM Academy Boys Step Team.

Day Two - June 23, 2009 ›

The second general session was hosted by James Forman, Jr., co-founder of the Maya Angelou Public Charter School in Washington D.C. Mr. Forman introduced National Alliance for Public Charter Schools President and CEO Nelson Smith for the annual State of the Movement Speech. Mr. Smith's speech was followed by an address by New York City Schools Chancellor Joel Klein and the presentation of the Austin Frum Scholarships by Charter Schools Development Corporation President and CEO Frank Riggs. Concluding the session, the annual Hall of Fame awards honored Josephine Baker of the District of Columbia Public Charter School Board, the Knowledge is Power Program and Don Shalvey of Aspire Public Schools.

Day Three - June 24, 2009 ›

The final session of the conference preceded the largest ever advocacy mobilization for charter schools, as 1,500 participants visited their representatives in Congress on Capitol Hill. To fire them up, the session featured National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Chair Caprice Young, Alliance Federal Policy Director Brooks Garber, Congressman Jared Polis, charter school parent Steve Berlin and, delivering a passionate speech to "close that achievement gap," the Alliance's founding Chair Dr. Howard Fuller. The session finished with a passionate performance by the KIPP DC AIM Academy Drum Line.