PRESS RELEASE -- May 21, 2007
Contact: Shannon Murphy
Strong American Schools
(202) 870-1093 - cell
Strong American Schools Chairman Roy Romer Urges Presidential Candidates to Address K-12 Education Reforms
WASHINGTON, DC – Strong American Schools Chairman Roy Romer issued the following statement, urging all presidential candidates to unveil K-12 education reforms.
“I am pleased that several presidential candidates have begun to announce pre-Kindergarten and higher education proposals, but I urge all candidates to address the K-12 reforms that are desperately needed in this country. Expanding pre-K opportunities will not pay off unless we provide great elementary schools for all students to attend. Efforts to make college affordable will not be successful unless we make sure all students leave high school prepared for college,” said Romer, who has been a leader in education and government for the last 50 years. Romer was elected to three term as governor of Colorado and most recently led the nation’s second largest school system as superintendent of the Los Angeles unified School District.
“Graduation season is just around the corner and yet again, this year, one million students who should have graduated are not going to. We need to raise standards, get an effective teacher in every classroom and give students time and support for learning. I urge all candidates to make education a top priority in the 2008 election cycle. If candidates are not talking about education, then they are not talking about our future....and that means K-12 education too,” added Romer.
The “ED in 08” campaign is an unprecedented up to $60 million nonpartisan public awareness and action campaign supported by The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The campaign is designed to raise education to one of the country’s top domestic priorities and to challenge the 2008 presidential candidates to begin a dialogue about how they will improve American schools.
To join the "ED in '08" campaign, and for more information, log onto: edin08.com
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Strong American Schools, a project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, is a nonpartisan campaign supported by The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation promoting sound education policies for all Americans. SAS does not support or oppose any candidate for public office and does not take positions on legislation.