Black Alliance for Educational Options to Host 14th Annual BAEO Symposium in New Orleans, LA

WASHINGTON, March 17, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO) is excited to host the BAEO Symposium 2014 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana, March 20 – 22. With nearly 700 parents, educators, school administrators, elected officials, clergy, emerging leaders and other education reform advocates, the BAEO Symposium will fill three days with focused conversation designed to inform, inspire, and empower.

"We're excited to bring yet another year of dynamic content and experiences that will help participants bring high-quality educational options to low-income and working-class families in their communities," said BAEO President, Kenneth Campbell. "We will be joined by education reform leaders like Dr. Steve Perry, Dr. Rod Paige, Pastor Marvin Sapp and Kati Haycock who will help us get about the work of moving our agenda forward."

The theme at Symposium 2014 is "Seize the Opportunities". The conference will encourage the information exchange between advocates working to bring greater educational options to their communities.

"So often I hear people talk about how our kids are our future.  NO, our kids are here right NOW. We must radically change the systems of education to meet the needs they have TODAY.  They will ultimately define their own futures and it is our responsibility to ensure they get the education they need to make that future bright," said Howard Fuller, Board Chair, BAEO. "Our Symposium is just one of the sparks that helps to sustain the flame of 'urgency now' for our children."

Highlights of the concurrent sessions are:

• New Orleans Education Reform: Promises, Progress, Possibilities

  Before Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city in 2005, New Orleans had one of the worst performing public school districts in the nation. Katrina forced nearly a million
 people to leave their homes and caused almost $100 billion in damages. In the wake of Katrina, education reformers decided to seize the opportunity and start fresh with a system based on parental choice. Today, New Orleans has the most market-based school system in the United States, test scores are up, and talented and passionate educators from around the country are flocking to New Orleans to be a part of the education revolution. Join us for this interactive community conversation where we discuss the progress that has been made and how difficult issues such as race, class, community participation, and power will impact education reform efforts going forward.
  
  

  Facilitator:	Andre Perry, Founding Dean of Urban Education at Davenport University
  Presenters:	Sharon Clark, Principal, Sophie B. Wright Public Charter School, New Orleans
  	Patrick Dobard, Superintendent, Louisiana Recovery School District
  	Neerav Kingsland, Chief Strategy Officer, New Schools for New Orleans
  	Nolan Marshall II, President, Orleans Parish School Board
  Location:	Hyatt Regency New Orleans, Strand 13, Level Two
  Date:	Friday, March 21, 2014
  Time:	8:00am – 9:30am

• Louisiana Scholarship Program: Giving Families Hope and a New Option

  The Louisiana Scholarship Program (LSP) has been a valuable parental choice option in the state of Louisiana, providing public funds for low-income students in low-performing schools to enroll in local private schools. The program has recently come under fire from the U.S. Department of Justice, making the LSP a great case study in education reform policy. Participants will analyze the case study to identify advocacy and policy strategies for use in their home states.
  
  

  Facilitator:	Eric Lewis, State Director, Louisiana BAEO
  Presenters:	Falesha Augustus, Parent of student in Louisiana Scholarship Program
  	Vanessa Chavis, Administrator at St. Peter Claver Catholic School
  	Soraya Hanson, Parent of student in Louisiana Scholarship Program
  	Lauren Perry, Chief of Staff, Office of Portfolio, Louisiana Department of Education
  Location:	Hyatt Regency New Orleans, Bolden 6, Level Two
  Date:	Friday, March 21, 2014
  Time:	2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

• Why Should I Support Common Core?

  By debunking myths and emphasizing facts about how and why Common Core State Standards were created and the role of the federal government versus the state, this session will demonstrate how higher standards can benefit Black children and families. Participants will identify important strategies to consider as they monitor and advocate for Common Core in their states.
  
  

  Facilitator:	Gerard Robinson, Vice-President, UniversityNow
  Presenters:	David Adkisson, President & CEO, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
  	Michael Cohen, President, Achieve
  	Kati Haycock, President, Education Trust
  Location:	Hyatt Regency New Orleans, Bolden 3, Level Two
  Date:	Friday, March 21, 2014
  Time:	2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Contact for Questions: Tanzi West Barbour at [email protected] or visit www.baeo.org. 

About BAEO:
BAEO is an advocacy organization whose mission is to increase access to high-quality educational options for Black children by actively supporting transformational education reform initiatives and parental choice policies that empower low-income and working-class Black families. BAEO was founded in 2000 and champions parental choice policies and programs that serve low-income and working-class Black families, but is equally focused on promoting quality to ensure that Black students have access to high-performing schools. BAEO envisions a future where low-income and working-class Black families are empowered to choose a high-quality primary and secondary education for their children that enable them to pursue the college or career path of their choice, become economically independent

SOURCE Black Alliance for Educational Options