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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: February 23, 2004
Number: nr 04-01
Contact:Nan Powers Varoga, 713-658-1881, ext. 14
nvaroga@houstonaplus.org


MEDIA ADVISORY
Houston Students Deliberate the Future of High School
Community members to see a school day through the eyes of the students
WHAT:
Five students and nine community leaders assess high schools in the kick off to a focused two-day look at Houston high schools. Community members and education experts will visit high schools by school bus to talk firsthand with students, teachers and administrators. Lunch will be served in the host school’s cafeteria. The events are organized by the American Leadership Forum and The Houston A+ Challenge.
WHEN:

Thursday, February 26, 2004
6:00 p.m. – Reception
6:30 p.m. – Student and Community Panel

Friday, February 27, 2004
8:00 a.m. – Breakfast and registration
8:30 a.m. – School visit overview
10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. School visit
WHO:
Bill White, Mayor of Houston (6:30 p.m. February 26)
Tony Wagner, professor, Harvard Graduate School of Education and senior advisor to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (6:30 p.m. February 26 and 8:30 a.m. 27)
Kaye Stripling, superintendent of Houston Independent School District (Feb. 26)
Rob Mosbacher, chairman of the Greater Houston Partnership (Feb. 26)
WHERE:
Thursday, February 26, 2004 Friday, February 27, 2004 Jones Graduate School of Management Houston Community College Auditorium West Loop Center Rice University Auditorium 6100 Main Street 5601 W. Loop South Houston, Texas 77005 Houston, Texas 77038
WHY:
Houston must transition to a new high school model that gives students the knowledge and skills to compete in a global economy. The United States has lost three million jobs to automation and offshore outsourcing since 2001. Other countries offer American companies not only an educated workforce but also cheaper labor. Houston must step up to work with high schools as they undergo this dramatic transition.