As NV Decides How to Fix Low Performing Schools, Hundreds of Educators Gather in Reno to Exchange Ideas to Raise Student Achievement

March 19-21, Peppermill Hotel

RENO, Nev., March 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Educators from Nevada, Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and Hawaii are gathering in Reno, March 19-21, to strategize about ways to improve student achievement.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081015/NEALOGO)

"Turning around low performing schools is a high priority for our members," said Lily Eskelsen, vice president of the National Education Association. "Students who attend low performing schools year after year deserve a shot at the American Dream too.

NEA has pledged to invest $1 million per year the next six years to pursue strategies to increase teacher effectiveness at low performing schools.

NEA's commitment goes beyond marshalling educators' financial resources.

Educators have vowed to work side-by-side with students, parents and community leaders to attract and keep the best educators and necessary resources at schools with the greatest need, typically schools in high poverty communities that are chronically under-funded, under-staffed and unsupported.

NEA is working on other fronts as well to help students who attend schools in high poverty communities. To ensure children have the health care they need no matter what their families' circumstances, educators have joined a coordinated effort, Health Care for America Now to urge Congress to pass quality, affordable health care. Currently 8 million children in the U. S are without health coverage and 46 million adults lack coverage.

Educators are also lobbying Congress to pass bold job creation policies so that family breadwinners can provide a home life for their children that supports learning.

More than 600 educators are attending the Reno gathering. That number includes educators from rural school districts as well as urban centers; kindergarten teachers as well as high school teachers; education support professionals including librarians, counselors, nurses, custodians, and secretaries. African American and Hispanic educators will bring their unique perspective to the gathering as well.

Lily Eskelsen and other NEA members are available for interviews. To schedule an interview, contact Cynthia Kain at 202-213-5971 or [email protected].

SOURCE National Education Association