The Opportunity to Learn Agenda, Washington, DC

UPDATE: Time Change.  Please Read Instructions Below Carefully. RSVP's are required for this event.

The brief is available here.

The Forum for Education and Democracy

and the

The Schott Foundation for Public Education

Invite you to attend a
Capitol Hill Briefing:

“The Opportunity to Learn Agenda:
Building Strong and Fair Public Schools across America”

SPEAKERS:

Congressman Chaka Fattah, U.S. House of Representatives

Mr. R. Dwayne Betts, Program Director for the DC Creative Writing Workshop, National Spokesperson for the Campaign for Youth Justice

Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond, Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education at Stanford University

Dr. John Jackson, President and CEO, Schott Foundation for Public Education

Mr. Carlos Loumiet, Chair, New America Alliance

Sam Chaltain, National Director, The Forum for Education and Democracy

Date: Thursday, November 5, 2009
*Time: 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

Location:
Senate Visitor’s Center, Room 212/210

*For your information, the Senate Visitor's Center is located below the East Plaza of the U.S. Capitol between Constitution and Independence Avenues.  The Capitol Visitor's Center doesn't allow public entry until 8:00 a.m.  If you are taking the metro, the nearest metro stations are "Capitol South" on the Orange/Blue Line or Union Station on the Red Line.  You should enter the main entrance of the Capitol Visitor's Center located on First Street, SE, go through security (please be advised that no liquids, weapons, or luggage is allowed), go down one level and turn right.  You will arrive at the lower Senate appointment desk where you will check in.  You will then proceed to room 212/210 of the Senate Visitor's Center.  You MUST RSVP to be admitted to the Capitol Visitor's Center.

RSVP: forumforeducationrsvp@gmail.com or call Leslie at 202-265-5111

In order to be high achievers, students need strong teachers, robust learning materials, and a supportive and safe learning environment. Unfortunately, too many of our lower-income students attend schools that lack the resources they need to optimize their ability to learn. Inequities in the distribution of resources are compounded by measures that levy high-stakes penalties against schools that fail to meet student achievement goals. This approach is not fair to schools who struggle to teach students without the same resources enjoyed by other, wealthier schools. States and districts must be encouraged to invest in the equitable distribution of resources if we are to build a quality learning environment that promotes high academic achievement for all students. This session examines the inequities of the current system and offers policy-makers guidance on how to build strong and fair public schools that offer every student an opportunity to learn.