Prominent Slate of Public School Officials to Participate in 2012 School Choice Policy Summit

Public school leaders to speak on need for school choice programs at third annual National Policy Summit

WASHINGTON, April 26, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Federation for Children, the nation's voice for school choice, today announced a group of reform-minded public school officials who will speak at the organization's third annual National Policy Summit, to be held May 3-4 in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett—who was instrumental in pushing for the Choice Scholarship Program, Indiana's landmark statewide voucher program that began last fall—will be joined on a panel by Kenneth Whalum, a member of the Shelby County School Board in Tennessee, and Arlene Ackerman, former head of public school districts in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. Ackerman made headlines last year when she publicly endorsed a statewide voucher proposal in Pennsylvania following more than 40 years working in public education.

The three education leaders will participate in a discussion about their support for publicly-funded private school choice programs nationwide.  Dr. Howard Fuller, the renowned national education reform advocate and chairman of the Black Alliance for Educational Options who formerly served as the superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools, will moderate the discussion.

AFC's Policy Summit will also include remarks from Gloria Romero, former state senator and Democratic majority leader from California and state director of Democrats for Education Reform.  Romero is also the author of California's parent trigger law.

The Summit will also feature keynote addresses from Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, and national news commentator Juan Williams.

"We're proud and honored to welcome such a committed group of education leaders who have courageously stood up to put the interests of children first by supporting expanded educational options for families" said Betsy DeVos, chairman of the American Federation for Children.

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