Laurent Ross Candidate for DC School Board President Supports Charter School Moratorium

THE D.C. STATEHOOD GREEN PARTY
http://www.dcstatehoodgreen.org

Laurent Ross for D.C. School Board President
http://www.Laurentross.com

August 16, 2006

Contact:
Scott McLarty, 202-518-5624, mclarty@greens.org 
Laurent Ross, cell 202-549-8409, Laurent.Ross@Calvert.com 

The Charter School System Fails Our Children! 

WASHINGTON, DC -- Laurent Ross, candidate for D.C. School Board President, today joined D.C. School Superintendent Clifford B. Janey in calling for a complete moratorium on new charter schools in the District, saying "the charter school system, imposed on D.C. by Newt Gingrich, receives the vast majority of its funding from DC tax payers, yet remains largely unaccountable to taxpayers." 

Mr. Ross' support for the Superintendent is part of his larger vision to restore quality education in the District of Columbia school system. 

"It's time to bring back traditional public education to our city by ending those programs that dilute the fiscal resources of our public education system," said Laurent Ross. "I'm calling for an end to the voucher program, a moratorium on the opening of any new charter schools, and the closing of ineffective charter schools." 

The Laurent Ross Plan for Change:  

Bring Traditional Public Education Back to DC 
. End the voucher program 
. Support moratorium on new charter schools 
. Close ineffective charter schools 

Bring Our Special Education Kids Back Home
. Invest resources to create the best special education program in the nation 
. Stop spending $200 MILLION each year on private schools, transportation companies, and lawyers

Put the "Public" Back in DC Public Schools 
. Involve community members in our school system again
. Create a school board that is committed to public input

Forwarded by the DC Statehood Green Party 
http://www.dcstatehoodgreen.org