National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Welcomes Bill Gates as Keynote Speaker on the Opening Day of the National Charter Schools Conference

Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to Address More than 4,000 Charter School Supporters at the McCormick Place Lakeside Center

WASHINGTON, June 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools is thrilled to have Bill Gates as the keynote speaker on the opening day of the National Charter Schools Conference.  Mr. Gates will speak at 9:35 a.m. in the Arie Crown Theater.  This event is open to credentialed media and registered conference attendees only.  The theme for this year's conference is "Innovators in Education: Leading the Race to the Top."  A complete overview of the week's activities can be found at www.nationalcharterconference.org.

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The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has an impressive history of supporting innovation in public education, and their support of the charter sector has helped the growth and replication of many high-performing charter schools.  Many lives have been changed as result of the foundation's commitment to improving children's lives and enhancing student achievement. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools is honored to have Mr. Gates address conference attendees.

Media registration is on the Level Two Lobby in the Lakeside Center at the McCormick Place Convention Center, located at 2301 South Lake Shore Drive.

"Public education is a public trust," said Nelson Smith, president and CEO, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.  "While the investments of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have been substantial, it is imperative that these investments be leveraged with public dollars and individual commitment. We all have a stake in this," he added.

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (http://www.publiccharters.org) is the national nonprofit organization committed to advancing the charter school movement. The Alliance works to increase the number of high-performing charter schools available to all families, particularly low-income and minority families who currently do not have access to quality public schools. The Alliance provides assistance to state charter school associations and resource centers, develops and advocates for improved public policies, and serves as the united voice for this large and diverse movement. More than 1.5 million students attend nearly 5,000 charter schools in 40 states and the District of Columbia.

SOURCE National Alliance for Public Charter Schools