Press Releases

Education Tour Visit to Baltimore, MD

EDUCATION TOUR VISIT TO BALTIMORE, MD
SHARPTON-GINGRICH-DUNCAN BARNSTORM TOUR

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and civil rights leader Al Sharpton will join U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan on a visit to Baltimore on Friday, Nov.13th, as the second of several cities they will tour this fall to expose educational challenges, highlight bold reforms and rally support for greater transparency and accountability in all schools, higher learning standards, lifting restrictions on the growth of high-quality charter schools, turning around low-performing schools, and improving principal and teacher quality.

“In the global economy of the new century, the jobs of the future will go to the best educated. Today, however, American education is at a crossroads. One path leads to reform and progress, a better-trained workforce and a well-informed citizenry. Another path leads to the status quo: only 70% of students graduating; about 40% of 25 to 34 year-olds with a two-year or four-year college degree; double-digit achievement gaps among whites, Hispanics and African-Americans; stagnating performance on international tests. Our hope is that these school visits and conversations will inspire the full array of stakeholders to set aside partisanship and ideology and join together in support of a common education reform agenda that addresses our core challenges and provides every child in every school the very best education possible,” Sharpton, Gingrich and Duncan said in a joint statement.

The tour, an outgrowth of their meeting with President Obama last spring, will include school visits, stakeholder meetings and media briefings. The goal is to bring key stakeholders together and generate open and honest dialogue on ways to make America more economically and intellectually competitive by improving public education. The first stop took place in Philadelphia on Sept. 29t, the second stop will be on Nov. 18thin Baltimore and the third stop is to be determined. Cities were chosen both for logistical reasons and for what they can show about school reform.

WHAT & WHEN:
Visit to KIPP-Ujima Village Academy on Friday, Nov. 13th
10 a.m. Arrival
10:15 a.m. Classroom visit- CLOSED PRESS
10:40 a.m. Library visit, conversation w students- OPEN PRESS

WHERE:
KIPP-Ujima Village Academy
4701 Greenspring Ave
Baltimore, MD 21209

WHO:
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
Speaker Newt Gingrich
Reverend Al Sharpton
Dr. Nancy Grasmick, State Superintendent
Dr. Andres Alonso, Superintendent
Jason Botel, Executive Director of KIPP Baltimore

WHAT & WHEN:
Visit to Holabird Elementary School on Friday, Nov. 13th

11:30 a.m. Arrive
11:40 a.m. Classroom visit – CLOSED PRESS
12:05 p.m. Conversation w students in Library- OPEN PRESS

WHERE:
Holabird Elementary School
1500 Imla St.
Baltimore, MD 21224

WHO:
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
Speaker Newt Gingrich
Reverend Al Sharpton
Dr. Nancy Grasmick, State Superintendent
Dr. Andres Alonso, Superintendent

WHAT & WHEN:
Arrive Hampstead Hill Academy on Friday, Nov. 13th

12:40 p.m. Arrive
12:45 p.m. Lunch with Principals, Teachers, Administrators and Parents- CLOSED PRESS
2:00 p.m. Press Conference- OPEN PRESS

WHERE:
Hampstead Hill Academy
500 S Linwood Ave
Baltimore, MD 21224

WHO:
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
Speaker Newt Gingrich
Reverend Al Sharpton
Dr. Nancy Grasmick, State Superintendent
Dr. Andres Alonso, Superintendent