CBCF's ALC 2010 National Town Hall Challenges Public to Erase Knowledge Deficit and Rethink K-12 Education

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A virtual "Who's-Who" of educators and school policy wonks will gather at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Thursday, September 16^th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Town Hall Meeting, "Educating Our Way to Prosperity." CBCF's National Town Hall is a premier event during the organization's Annual Legislative Conference (ALC).  

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The education discussions will be led by senior administration officials and educators who have made their mark in the field. The Town Hall will take place in the format of two panel discussions exploring how to prepare young people for both the jobs of the future and where those jobs will be. Moderated by Representative Gwen Moore (D-WI), the first Panel will feature a number of high profile speakers including Education Secretary Arne Duncan, National Urban League CEO Marc Morial, UNCF President and CEO Dr. Michael Lomax, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, Howard University President Sidney Ribeau and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.  

A key point of discussion on Panel I will be the Reauthorization of the Elementary Secondary Education Act (ESEA), and whether portions of the previous legislation, "No Child Left Behind" need to be kept, removed and/or reconsidered. Panelists will examine the need to support African-American students in order to ensure their academic achievement and their personal development.  

A particular emphasis will be placed on teaching African-American males, attracting them to the profession and encouraging them to assume leadership positions. This panel will also discuss the over-criminalization of African-American male students, and the negative impact of zero-tolerance

disciplinary policies in our nation's schools.

Other panel topics include: The making of "highly effective teachers," disparities in education funding preparation of students to enter college or start careers, the role of community colleges, and historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and teacher training will all be featured topics of discussion.

Panel II will focus on future outlooks in the job market and what happens to young people upon matriculation through high school or college. Secretary Duncan will share the spotlight with the Assistant Secretary of Training and Employment for the U.S. Department of Labor Jane Oates along with other local and national education experts.  

They will discuss current and future job growth, the expansion of new jobs in areas of health care and internet technology and jobs that are becoming obsolete. Panelists will also examine the geographic regions that have, and are expected to have the most job growth in the future. Topics will include the current intergenerational labor force that consists of citizens of the Millennial Generation to Baby Boomers. One of the most talked-about issues of the day – the impact of retiring Baby Boomers – will round out the discussion.

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The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. was established in 1976 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit, public policy, research and education institute to help improve the socioeconomic circumstances of African Americans and other underserved communities.

SOURCE Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc.