National Education Leaders Discuss Impact of Charter Schools on Public Education

WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation is partnering with three
national education organizations in an event on Monday, January 25, to
highlight the importance of ensuring high-quality charter schools are
available to students across the country.

The event, “National School Choice Week Kickoff: The Importance of
High-Quality Charter Schools,” will feature two panels of education
experts and a reception at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington on
January 25 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. The Seventy Four will live webcast the
event on its website. The event is timed to coincide with National
School Choice Week (January 24-30, 2016), which will be the largest
series of education-related events in U.S. history.

“The U.S. Chamber remains committed to expanding educational choice for
families because parents and students deserve access to quality schools,
no matter their ZIP code,” said Cheryl Oldham, vice president of the
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Center for Education and
Workforce. “High-quality public charter schools play a critical role in
preparing young people for life beyond high school. National School
Choice Week provides us an excellent opportunity to celebrate the
success stories while advocating for greater access for the thousands of
families that don’t have educational options for their children.”

The panelists represent a who’s who of Washington leaders in education
policy and will cover topics such as charter schools’ impact on their
community, equity in public education, and the state of charter school
enrollment.

Panelists include:

• Chad Aldis, vice president, Ohio Policy and Advocacy, The Thomas B.
  Fordham Institute
• Shavar Jeffries, president, Democrats for Education Reform
• Marc Porter Magee, CEO and founder, 50CAN
• Cheryl Oldham, vice president, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s
  Center for Education and Workforce
• Nina Rees, president and CEO, National Alliance for Public Charter
  Schools
• Tracy Weinstein, national director, Policy, StudentsFirst

The event is co-hosted by the National Alliance for Public Charter
Schools, The Thomas B. Fordham Institute, and the Foundation for
Excellence in Education.

For more information, contact Mark D’Alessio at mdalessio@uschamber.com.

A nonpartisan, nonpolitical public awareness effort, National School
Choice Week shines a positive spotlight on effective education options
for students, families, and communities around the country.

For more information, visit www.schoolchoiceweek.com
or www.facebook.com/schoolchoiceweek.

Contacts

National School Choice Week
Mark D’Alessio, 202-463-5551
Senior
Manager of Communications
mdalessio@uschamber.com