On the Road to Educational Equality – Town Hall Event, May 19, 2011 5-8PM

Leveling the Playing Field for all Students Starts with Increasing Stability and Achievement for those Experiencing Foster Care

Town Hall Event

Western New England College

May 19, 2011 5-8PM

In studies from around the country, students in foster care score woefully lower on all academic measures than their peers. Despite this, research has consistently shown that when the particular educational needs of foster youth are addressed through thoughtful policy and practice the resulting improvements in educational achievement for these students can be dramatic.

As national attention is driven to educational reform and the likely overhaul of No Child Left Behind this year, right now is an ideal opportunity to widen the discourse to include those children in foster care.

The moderated town hall will highlight how the problems affecting our public education system as a whole – student mobility, achievement gaps and heightened drop out rates– impact foster youth in particular. Panelists will then explore solutions, the feasibility of such solutions and their likely effect, not only on students in foster care, but on all students.

A Q & A session will follow the discussion. Hors d’oeuvres and light refreshments will immediately follow the program, giving guests a chance to meet, mingle and explore ways to level the educational playing field for all students.

This event is being produced in collaboration with:

Western New England College

Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute

Sponsors include:

The Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation

United Way of Pioneer Valley

WWLP-22 News

Confirmed participants include:

Chris James Brown, President and CEO of the Child Welfare League of America

Gail Garinger, Child Advocate for the Commonwealth

Russell Johnston, West Springfield Superintendent of School

Lisa Famularo, Research Director at the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy

Rich Tettemer, Anchor WWLP News

• Please email info@fosteringmediaconnections.org with any questions.
• Click here for a map of the town hall location.
• Fact Sheet – The State of Education for Students Experiencing Foster Care in Massachusetts and a report by The National Working Group on Educational Outcomes for Children and Youth in Foster and Out-of-Home Care.

To RSVP, fill out the form below.

Fostering Media Connections is a project of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.  FMC harnesses the power of journalism and media to drive public and political will behind policy and practice that improve outcomes for children experiencing foster care.