Black Alliance for Educational Options to Host 15th Annual BAEO Symposium in Memphis, TN, March 19-20

WASHINGTON, March 18, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO) is excited to host the 15^th Anniversary of the annual BAEO Symposium at The Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee, March 19-20. With more than 600 parents, educators, school administrators, elected officials, clergy, emerging leaders and other education reform advocates, the BAEO Symposium 2015 will fill two days with focused conversation designed to inform, inspire, and empower.

"We're excited to bring yet another year of exciting general and current sessions that will help participants bring high-quality educational options to low-income and working-class families in their communities," said BAEO Interim President, Jacqueline Cooper. "We will be joined by parent choice and education reform leaders who will help us get about the work of moving our agenda forward."

Part of the two-day celebration will include tributes to

The theme at Symposium 2015 is "Ain't No Stopping Us Now". The conference will encourage the information exchange between advocates working to bring more educational options and transformational education reform initiatives to their communities.

Highlights of the concurrent sessions are:

• Parents: Using the Courts for Change
  Parents continue to use the courts to fight for better educational opportunities for their children. Participants in this session will hear from several parent leaders who used the judicial system as an advocacy strategy. Honest dialogue between participants will be encouraged as the group considers when to use litigation as an effective strategy.
  Friday, March 20, 2015
  10am – 11:30am
  Grand Ballroom E-F, Mezzanine Level
  
  
• Reclaiming the Black Narrative
  In May 2014, BAEO hosted its first Black Thought Leaders convening to discuss ideas and issues key to ensuring that the needs of the parents and children we serve were being met. We will continue the conversation, begun in 2014, on how we can expand Black voices in the parental choice and education reform movements. You will leave the session with ideas on how you can actively participate in championing these initiatives.
  Friday, March 20, 2015
  10am – 11:30am
  Grand Ballroom D, Mezzanine Level
  
  
• Testing as a Tool for Choice
  Testing is a valuable tool for helping parents make wise school choices. This session explores why standardized testing is used, how it increases accountability, and how standardized testing policies can be improved. Participants will learn why standardized tests matter to the Black community and to parent choice.
  Friday, March 20, 2015
  2pm – 3:30pm
  Grand Ballroom E-F, Mezzanine Level
  
  
• Engaging the Community
  Community engagement is critical for long-term success and is required throughout the decision making process in any advocacy campaign. In this session, participants will learn effective strategies, and identify challenges in organizing stakeholders and mobilizing community support for education reform and parental choice.
  Friday, March 20, 2015
  2pm – 3:30pm
  Forest Room, Mezzanine Level

About BAEO
BAEO is an advocacy organization whose mission is to increase access to high-quality educational options for Black children by actively supporting transformational education reform initiatives and parental choice policies that empower low-income and working-class Black families. BAEO was founded in 2000 and champions parental choice policies and programs that serve low-income and working-class Black families, but is equally focused on promoting quality to ensure that Black students have access to high-performing schools. BAEO envisions a future where low-income and working-class Black families are empowered to choose a high-quality primary and secondary education for their children that enable them to pursue the college or career path of their choice, become economically independent adults, and engage in the practice of freedom.

SOURCE Black Alliance for Educational Options

Related Links

http://www.baeo.org

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