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Sharpton and Gingrich Team for Education Reform

Thursday event screened film showing ordinary students can excel under right environment. The very liberal Reverend Al Sharpton and very conservative former House Speaker Newt Gingrich were set to host a major education reform event on Thursday in Washington, D.C. The Education Equality Project and American Solutions were behind the event that included commentary from Gingrich and Sharpton and the world premiere of a new documentary called Two Million Minutes: The 21st Century Solution.

The film, conceived and produced by venture capitalist and entrepreneur Robert A. Compton, is a sequel to his 2007 internationally acclaimed film Two Million Minutes – A Global Examination. This first film analyzed how six students from the U.S., India and China prioritized their four years or “two million minutes” of high school and demonstrated that the Asian students were, academically, years ahead of their American peers.

Now, two years later, Compton’s sequel explores an open-enrollment school in the U.S. that teaches “ordinary” students at an extraordinarily high academic level. This school, located in a largely low-income area, beautifully demonstrates that American students are capable of competing academically with the best in the world given the right curriculum, the right teachers and the right inspiration and expectations for success.

“I was shocked to find what I consider to be the world`s best high school in one of the poorest parts of America,” said Compton. “This school is educating its students at a level that is globally competitive and preparing them to compete in the 21st century economy.”

The school and its location was to be revealed during the film’s premiere on Thursday.

“This is one of the most important events I will participate in all year,” said Gingrich. “Education reform is crucial to America`s success, and Compton`s films bring the issues and solutions into light. I implore every American to watch these films and demand change. Our future depends on it.”

For more information on Compton or to purchase copies of his documentary films, visit www.2mminutes.com.