AFC Announces Bipartisan Group of State Legislators for 2012 National Policy Summit

Nation's elected officials to speak on enacting and expanding school choice programs at third annual school choice policy summit

WASHINGTON, April 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Federation for Children today announced a bipartisan group of legislators from Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin that will participate as panelists at the third annual AFC National Policy Summit, to be held May 3-4 in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Representative Jason Fields (D) from Milwaukee, will join Georgia Representative Rahn Mayo (D), Ohio Representative John Barnes (D) and Florida Senator Anitere Flores (R) in a discussion of expanding existing school choice programs in four key states.

A second legislator panel will feature New Jersey Assemblyman Troy Singleton (D), Tennessee Representative John DeBerry (D), and Virginia Delegates Jimmie Massie (R) and Algie Howell (D) in a discussion of the process behind enacting school choice programs.  The Virginia legislature recently passed a bill that will create a scholarship tax credit program, and a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers is working to do the same in New Jersey.  Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam established a task force last December to make recommendations on what kind of opportunity scholarship initiative would be best for Tennessee based on the best available research.

The 2012 Summit will also feature keynote addresses from New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Newark Mayor Cory Booker, as well as remarks from author and national commentator Juan Williams. A research panel on current trends and data about publicly-funded private school choice programs and an interview with retired Intel Corporation CEO Craig Barrett are also scheduled.

"These legislators have been at the forefront to expand and enact school choice programs in their states," said Betsy DeVos, chairman of the American Federation for Children, "and we're honored to have them share their experiences at our Summit."

The American Federation for Children's National Policy Summit, School Choice Now: Breakthrough Victories for Children, will be held at the Westin Jersey City Newport Hotel in Jersey City on Thursday, May 3 and Friday, May 4, 2012.  To register or learn more, visit www.AFCPolicySummit.com.

SOURCE American Federation for Children