BAEO RESPONDS TO PRESIDENT OBAMA’S EDUCATION REFORM SPEECH
BAEO Communication Office|News Release
July 30, 2010
For
immediate release: July 30, 2010
For more
information contact:
Felice Green, Director of Communications
Felice@baeo.org /
(202) 429-2236
BAEO RESPONDS TO PRESIDENT OBAMA’S
EDUCATION REFORM SPEECH
Group hopes to see true reform expand
with the Administration’s Support
Washington, DC – The Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO) issued a
response to President Barack Obama’s recent speech to the National Urban League's 100th
Anniversary Convention in Washington DC. As one of the leading organizations in
the parental choice movement, BAEO has been a strong proponent of
revolutionizing education reform for low-income and working class Black families
in this nation.
Taking
note of the President’s continued support of the Race to the Top initiative;
BAEO leadership is set on seeing the activities that are being supported by the
Race to the Top grants in Delaware and Tennessee expanded to other states. BAEO
is further hopeful that education reforms currently underway in states, such as
Louisiana will be recognized by the Administration in the new round of funding.
“BAEO is
supportive of the tenants of Race to the Top and the vehicle it provides for
spurring bold, innovative reform in our states and local communities. We’re
hopeful that the new round of funding will provide greater capacity beyond
Tennessee and Delaware so other areas of our country are able to implement the
types of reform initiatives that will lead to educational excellence for all
children,” said Kenneth Campbell, BAEO President. “For us, it’s urgent and imperative
that communities throughout this nation, particularly those with high
concentrations of low-income Black families, experience true change in the way
children are being educated. We
applaud the President for setting the tone that it is unacceptable for any
child in America to be forced to attend a failing school.”
The
President’s speech also touched on the importance of parental involvement in
their children’s education. BAEO believes that parents are a critical component
to the successful education of children, and that increased parental
involvement will come when parents and communities are empowered in the
education system.
“We are encouraged
that the Administration remains steadfast in its drive to turn around failing
schools, while at the same time working to increase the number of high-quality charter
schools that are available to our children and families. As public schools of choice, charter
schools provide low-income and working class families with options for where
their children go to school – often for the first time.” said Kevin P. Chavous,
BAEO Board Chair. “The ability to choose a high-quality school is critically
important and should be a fundamental right for all parents, regardless of
income.”
About BAEO
BAEO is a national, non-profit, membership organization. BAEO was founded in
2000 by Howard Fuller, Deborah McGriff, Virginia Walden-Ford, Philadelphia
State Rep. Dwight Evans, Kenneth Campbell, and several other prominent Black educators,
elected officials and civil rights activists with start-up funding from the
Walton family foundation. BAEO celebrated its 10th anniversary at Symposium
2010, the Annual Meeting of the organization in Milwaukee, Wis., on March 4-6.
BAEO’s
mission is to increase access to high-quality educational options for Black
children by actively supporting parental choice policies and programs that
empower low-income and working-class Black families. For more information on
BAEO visit www.baeo.org.
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