Florida’s New Education Commissioner to Speak at Tampa Showcase to Celebrate National School Choice Week 2013

TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New Florida Education Commissioner Tony Bennett will speak at a middle school magnet academy in Tampa on Tuesday to celebrate National School Choice Week 2013, organizers announced today.

“National School Choice Week 2013 will feature more than 3,500 independently-planned special events across the country, comprising the largest celebration of education reform in American history”

The event, Choice in Florida: A Showcase and Panel Discussion, will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday (Jan. 29, 2013) and will shine a spotlight on the need to expand access to educational options for all children. Bennett will be joined by Hillsborough school superintendent MaryEllen Elia and selected students, parents and teachers who will speak to the wide variety of school options in Florida.

By participating in National School Choice Week 2013, Florida Alliance for Choices in Education joins hundreds of organizations, thousands of groups, and millions of Americans in raising awareness about the need to empower parents with the ability to choose the best educational environments for their children. These options include high-performing public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, private schools, online learning, and homeschooling.

WHO:

Tony Bennett, Florida Commissioner of Education
MaryEllen Elia, Hillsborough County Schools Superintendent
Parents, teachers, students, and administrators from choice schools

WHAT:

A conversation surrounding school choice options between Tony Bennett and MaryEllen Elia. A discussion of choice schools from parents and teachers in Florida.

WHEN:

January 29, 2013 at 3:30pm

WHERE:

Franklin Middle Magnet School (Tampa)
3915 E 21st Ave
Tampa, FL 33605

FOR MEDIA:

This event is open to the press.

Contact Catherine Durkin Robinson at crobinson@stepupforstudents.org

“National School Choice Week 2013 will feature more than 3,500 independently-planned special events across the country, comprising the largest celebration of education reform in American history,” said Andrew Campanella, National School Choice Week’s president. “As people will learn at this important event, a quality education can be the ticket to the American dream for children across America, and we must fight to ensure that every child has the ability to go to a great school.”

For more information, visit www.schoolchoiceweek.com or visit www.flace.org