If you’re in DC on the 28th, this looks interesting:

Mark your calendars for an illuminating debate sponsored by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and Education Next.

"School Turnarounds: Exciting and Felicitous or Expensive and Futile?"

January 28, 2010
Thomas B. Fordham Institute
1016 16th St NW, 7th Floor
Washington, DC 20036
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM 

We'll begin with opposing presentations by Andy Smarick, Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Fordham, and Bryan C. Hassel, Co-Director of Public Impact. Smarick, author of the new Education Next feature "The Turnaround Fallacy," will argue that closing chronically-failing schools is the better option. Hassel, who co-authored the Education Next feature "The Big U-Turn," will contend that turnarounds play an essential role even if they don't always succeed. Then we'll get on-the-ground perspectives from Andrés A. Alonso, reform-minded CEO of the Baltimore City Public Schools, and Emily Lawson, founder and CEO of DC Prep, a network of three high-performing Washington charter schools.

We'll conclude with light refreshments.

Please RSVP to RSVP@edexcellence.net or call 202-223-5452.

This event will be webcast live on our website: www.edexcellence.net. No need to sign up to watch it – simply go to our website at 2:00 PM and click on the link!