The Education Nation On-The-Road tour kicks off in Detroit! March 22-29

DETROIT, March 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Education Nation is a partnership between WDIV-Local 4 and NBC to bring local leaders and educators together to discuss critical education issues affecting the city and the region. 

"WDIV-Local 4 is proud to partner with NBC News for this ground-breaking series of summits and town hall meetings," said Marla Drutz, VP & General Manager of WDIV-Local 4.  "A great education is the key to a fulfilling life.  We're committed to shining a light on the innovative approaches that are improving education, and getting honest answers about the challenges that still remain."

To kick off "Education Nation Detroit," on Friday, March 22, at 9am, NBC News will host an Opening Ceremony emceed by WDIV-Local 4's Devin Scillian.  Governor Rick Snyder will share his perspective on how to ensure Michigan students and workers are prepared to succeed in the 21^st Century.  Also participating is Mayor Dave Bing, W.K. Kellogg Foundation President & CEO Sterling Speirn, General Motors Foundation President Vivian Pickard, Wright Museum President & CEO Juanita Moore, Detroit Tigers Mascot PAWS, and area students.

All events will be held at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.

Detroit Summit
Conversations with local education, business, government and community leaders about early childhood education, school choice and college and career readiness.

Panels include -- Early Learning: Sowing Seeds for Success, sponsored by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation;  K-12: New Choices in Changing Times, sponsored by the General Motors Foundation;  Job One: Preparing Michigan to Compete in the 21st Century Economy, sponsored by University of Phoenix.

WHEN: Friday, March 22, 9:45am-1pm
WHERE TO WATCH: Live from 12:30-1pm on Local 4, Job One: Preparing Michigan to Compete in the 21st Century Economy.  The entire program (9:45am-1pm) will be streamed live on EducationNation.com
HOSTS:  Devin Scillian and Rhonda Walker along with NBC's Chelsea Clinton and Rehema Ellis.

For more info:  http://www.educationnation.com/index.cfm?objectid=35627AA0-8ABB-11E2-93ED000C296BA163

Student Town Hall
The first-ever Student Town Hall on the Education Nation Tour, lets students voice their opinion on what's working in their schools and what they hope for their own education.

WHEN: Saturday, March 23, 2-3:30pm
WHERE TO WATCH: The entire program will be streamed live on EducationNation.com, and the first hour will air the following day on WDIV-Local 4 from 12-1pm - Sunday, March 24. 
HOSTS:  Carmen Harlan and Steve Garagiola along with NBC's Rehema Ellis.

Viewers can join the conversation on Twitter and Facebook. 
For more info:  http://thewright.org/upcoming-events/details/674-nbc-news-education-nation-detroit-student-town-hall

Teacher Town Hall
A conversation with teachers from across Michigan about the issues affecting their classrooms.

WHEN: Saturday, March 23, 7-8:30pm
WHERE TO WATCH: First hour live on WDIV-Local 4 from 7-8 pm, and the entire program live on EducationNation.com. 
HOSTS:  Carmen Harlan and Steve Garagiola along with NBC's Rehema Ellis.

Viewers can join the live conversation on Twitter or Facebook.
For more info: 
http://www.educationnation.com/index.cfm?objectid=7EAE0F30-8ABB-11E2-93ED000C296BA163
http://thewright.org/upcoming-events/details/674-nbc-news-education-nation-detroit-student-town-hall

Education Nation Bus
WHEN: March 18-28
WHERE TO WATCH: Reports will air on Local 4 News

WDIV-Local 4 will be at different schools across metro Detroit that are helping to "stuff the bus" with new or gently used books.  At the end of the tour, the books will then be delivered to the United Way for Southeastern Michigan who will use them in its early learning communities, of which they have 65 of them around metro Detroit, and its high school and hospital partners in the community.  Local 4 anchors and reporters will be reading at many of the schools to help celebrate Education Nation and Reading Month.

Local 4 News is currently the #1 newscast at 4pm, 5pm, 6pm, and 11pm in Nielsen ratings for the Detroit television market, and Local 4 News at 11pm is the highest-rated newscast of all NBC affiliates in the top 11 markets nationwide.  In addition, Local 4's www.ClickOnDetroit.com is a leading breaking news and weather website in Michigan.

About Post-Newsweek Stations
Post-Newsweek Stations is owned by The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO), a diversified education and media company.  Post-Newsweek Stations owns and operates six television stations:  WDIV, the NBC affiliate in Detroit; KPRC, the NBC affiliate in Houston; WPLG, the ABC affiliate in Miami; WKMG, the CBS affiliate in Orlando; KSAT, the ABC affiliate in San Antonio; and WJXT, an independent in Jacksonville.

SOURCE WDIV-Local 4