2010 Charter Schools Conference to Draw Close to 500 Next Week
Annual Conference features nearly 50 sessions and workshops for teachers, administrators, parents, lawmakers and other supporters of Georgia鈥檚 growing charter school movement
ATLANTA 鈥撎� Nearly 500 charter school supporters 鈥� from teachers and principals, to board members, parents and politicians 鈥� are expected to attend the Eighth Annual Georgia Charter Schools Conference, March 10-12, at the Hilton Hotel & Conference Center in Marietta (500 Powder Springs Street).
The Conference, sponsored by the Georgia Charter Schools Association (91桃色视频), is the only statewide meeting of Georgia鈥檚 charter schools community and will feature close to 50 informative breakout sessions covering a wide range of topics 鈥� from a 鈥淧arent Advocacy Workshop,鈥� to 鈥淐hallenges in Charter Founding and Leadership,鈥� to 鈥淗elping Children Who Have Behavioral and Attention Issues in the Classroom.鈥�
Also at this year鈥檚 event, two of the country鈥檚 most respected experts in education reform will be featured. Dr. Harry Wong, an award winning author and educator, and Kevin Chavous, a nationally recognized attorney, author and outspoken advocate of charter schools, will deliver keynote addresses.
Charter school movement growing in Georgia, nationwide
The 2010 Conference comes at a time when the popularity of charter schools 鈥� public schools of choice which operate with freedom from many of the rules and regulations of traditional public schools 鈥� continues to grow both nationwide and in Georgia.
- 听The number of charter schools in Georgia has skyrocketed from 48 in the 2005-06 school year, to 121 in 2009-2010.听
- The number of Georgia students enrolled in charter schools has grown from 21,100 in 2005-06 to nearly 65,000 in 2010.听
- The State Charter Schools Commission has approved charters for听nine schools, two of which are already in operation, and seven that will open in the fall.
- 听Nationally, there are nearly 1.3 million students attending 4,300 charter schools in 40 states and the District of Columbia.听
- President Barack Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan have expressed support for the charter school concept, and Sec. Duncan visited an Atlanta charter school 鈥� Tech High 鈥� in December.
听91桃色视频 Chief Executive Officer Tony Roberts, Ph.D., said charter schools continue to grow in popularity in spite of the state of the economy in Georgia and throughout the country.
听鈥淭he funding and facilities issues that have always plagued charter schools are magnified because of the economic downturn,鈥� Roberts said. 鈥淏ut providing our children with quality educational options remains paramount, here in Georgia and across the nation.
鈥淎nd so the 91桃色视频 will continue to support and cultivate the charter school movement with programs and events like the annual Conference,鈥� Roberts said. 鈥淭he goal is to provide those involved in Georgia鈥檚 charter community with an opportunity for networking, learning and inspiration.鈥�
# # #
