Conference to Advocate Educational Opportunity for Special Needs Children

Legislators, educators to work for more effective education options

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Jan 16, 2019, 08:00 ET

EWING, N.J., Jan. 16, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Senators, educators, activists, and strategists will gather to discuss school choice and special needs at an education conference on Wednesday, Jan. 23.

The conference, which will run from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the College of New Jersey's Education Building, will be packed with speeches, discussion, and personal stories about how school choice intersects with special needs education.

The event will kick-off with a keynote speech by retired Rep. Richard Zimmer, followed by panel discussions on timely topics such as "The Economics of Special Education," "Special Ed Parenting: District and Provider Issues," and "Legislative Solutions." After a working lunch, the conference will wrap up with a call to action and civic engagement.

This event is planned to coincide with the history-making celebration of National School Choice Week 2019, which will feature more than 40,000 school choice events across all 50 states.

"We eagerly anticipate bringing an outstanding roster of great minds and hearts together to discuss special needs education," said Steven Looney, a trustee of Excellent Education for Everyone. "While the conference will take place during National School Choice Week, we hope the fruits of our discussion will be felt throughout the whole year and beyond."

The event's panelists and speakers will include representatives from The Arc of New Jersey Family Institute, JerseyCAN, the Association of Schools and Agencies for the Handicapped, the New Jersey School Boards Association, Checkmate Advisors, Americans for Prosperity, Choice Media TV, the New Jersey Interdistrict Public School Choice Association, Step Up for Students, the New Jersey Network of Catholic School Families, CATO Institute, and the Bethel Church of Morristown.

Excellent Education for Everyone, the event's sponsor, is a research and policy non-profit with the mission of improving K-12 education, increasing educational options and working to close gaps in educational achievement in New Jersey.

As a nonpartisan, nonpolitical public awareness effort, National School Choice Week shines a positive spotlight on effective education options for students, families, and communities around the country. From January 20 through 26, 2019, more than 40,000 independently-planned events will be held in celebration of the Week. For more information, visit www.schoolchoiceweek.com.

SOURCE National School Choice Week