National Education, Parent Involvement Experts to Tackle Achievement Gap at Town Hall Meeting

Part of new alliance of PTA, Spelman College, Atlanta Public Schools Press conference to precede meeting and more: February 15-16                

ATLANTA and CHICAGO (February 7, 2008) — National experts are slated for the first-of-its-kind town hall meeting that will take an honest look at the achievement gap and discuss ways to close it for urban and underserved students. 

The town hall meeting, called “Closing the Gap, Opening Doors,” will feature a line-up of education experts and parents who represent a new alliance of three major parent, teacher and education organizations—the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA), Georgia PTA, Spelman College education department and Atlanta Public Schools.

The unique collaboration aims to create pilot programs, community-based projects, and resources to close the achievement gap for underrepresented communities.  A press conference announcing the alliance will precede the town hall meeting and will kickoff two days of events in Atlanta.

The featured panelists will include:

• Karen B. McLean Donaldson (Moderator)
  Professor and Chairperson, Education Department, Spelman College
• Warlene Gary
  Chief Executive Officer, National PTA
• Angela Farris Watkins
  Professor, Department of Psychology, Spelman College
• Carolyn Hart
  Special Liaison to Deputy Superintendent of School, Curriculum & Instruction, Atlanta Public Schools
• Norman H. Thomas Sr.
  Former President, Georgia PTA
• Morna Gailor
  Parent, Morningside Elementary School PTA

WHEN & WHERE:  

Friday, February 15 (Note: All of this day’s events at Spelman College.)

5 p.m. — Press Conference

5:20 p.m. — VIP reception (open to media)

6 p.m. — Town Hall Meeting: National experts (listed above) will discuss closing the achievement gap. (open to the public)

Saturday, February 16

10 a.m. — Special ceremony at Selena Sloan Butler (founder of PTA and Spelman alumna) gravesite at Oakland Cemetery (open to the public)

10:30 a.m. — Rededication Rally of Selena Sloan Butler Park, Atlanta (open to the public)

WHO:           

Leaders of all the organizations will be present at each event, as well as national education experts and child advocates.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

• James Martinez, PTA, (800) 307-4782 ext. 325, jmartinez@pta.org
• A.J. Johnson, Spelman College, (404) 270-5892, afjohnson@spelman.edu
• Joe Manguno, Atlanta Public Schools, (404) 802-2829, jmanguno@atlanta.k12.ga.us
• Leslie Cushman, Georgia PTA, (404) 610-6106, presgapta@bellsouth.net

About PTA
PTA comprises more than 5.5 million parents and other concerned adults devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of parent involvement in schools. PTA flourishes in more than 25,000 school communities nationwide by harnessing the energy and talents of millions of volunteers to be: voices for all children; relevant resources for families and communities; and champions for the education and well-being of every child. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who is concerned about the education, health, and welfare of children and youth.

Spelman College
Founded in 1881, Spelman College is the only historically Black college in the nation to be included on the U.S. News and World Report's list of top 75 "Best Liberal Arts Colleges — Undergraduate," 2005. Located in Atlanta, Ga., this private, historically Black women's college boasts outstanding alumnae, including Children's Defense Fund Founder Marian Wright Edelman; U.S. Foreign Service Director General Ruth Davis; authors Tina McElroy Ansa and Pearl Cleage and actress LaTanya Richardson. More than 83 percent of the full-time faculty members have Ph.D.s or other terminal degrees and the student-faculty ratio is 12:1. Annually, nearly one-third of Spelman students receive degrees in the sciences. The students number more than 2,186 and represent 43 states and 34 foreign countries. For more information regarding Spelman College, visit: www.spelman.edu.

About Atlanta Public Schools
Atlanta Public Schools are changing children’s lives every day. Under the leadership of its Superintendent, Dr. Beverly L. Hall, Atlanta Public Schools is becoming one of the nation’s highest performing urban school systems.  In 2007, all 62 APS elementary schools made Adequate Yearly Progress, the only urban district in the nation to achieve that distinction. All APS students benefit from the district’s focus on teacher quality, intensive math and science instruction, single-gender middle schools, high school small learning communities, and its nationally-acclaimed Project GRAD program. Although 75 percent of the district’s 51,000 students live below the poverty line, APS accepts no excuses for poor academic performance. Atlanta Public Schools is also one of Atlanta’s largest employers with 6,650 full-time personnel, including 3,643 teachers. For more information visit www.atlanta.k12.ga.us

About Georgia PTA
The Georgia PTA serves as a link between the national organization and membership within the state. A person who joins a local Parent Teacher Association automatically becomes a member of the National PTA and the Georgia PTA. The Georgia PTA represents over 330,000 members at the state legislature, state board of education and other education and child-focused organizations; provides support and training for local PTAs through workshops and publications; coordinates special projects to promote the welfare of Georgia's children and youth, and much more. Georgia PTA is also the proud state to be home of two of three founders for National PTA.