FOR RELEASE: Sept. 15, 2006
GALVESTON, Texas — The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston will host a live, interactive teleconference titled “Effective Advocacy in the Pre-K Movement,” Sept. 20 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Open Gates Conference Center, 2419 Sealy St., in Galveston.
From 2 to 3:30 p.m., the Texas Early Childhood Education Coalition, a conference sponsor, will announce its 2007 legislative agenda via satellite to all Texas teleconference sites.
The annual conference is organized by Pre-K Now, a public education and advocacy organization that advances high-quality, voluntary pre-kindergarten for all 3- and 4-year olds. This free event is open to the public, and space may be reserved online at http://events.preknow.org/page/event/search simple or by contacting Charlotte at Collaborative for Children, (713) 600-1138. A box lunch will be provided.
The discussion — broadcast via satellite to sites nationwide — is hosted by ABC News chief Washington correspondent George Stephanopoulos and will feature Phil Bredesen, governor of Tennessee, and M. Jodi Rell, governor of Connecticut. Participants will discuss strategies for securing high-quality pre-K education and plan activities to apply these strategies locally.
Texas will be highlighted as one of a few states expanding pre-K eligibility guidelines this year to include all 3- and 4-year-old children with parents on active duty, in an activated reserve unit, or who were killed or wounded in action. Texas legislators and a military family will be interviewed.
The conference is sponsored by the Collaborative for Children, the Texas Early Childhood Education Coalition and United Way of Texas. Pre-K Now is supported by the Pew Charitable Trusts, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, CityBridge Foundation and the Schumann Fund for New Jersey.
The University of Texas Medical Branch
Public Affairs Office
301 University Boulevard, Suite 3.102
Galveston, Texas 77555-0144
www.utmb.edu