U.S. Department of Education Undersecretary Gene Hickok today presented a $600,000 grant to the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO) to develop an intense public information campaign to reach parents about the choices available to them under the sweeping federal No Child Left Behind Act. Hickok presented the award to Dr. Howard Fuller, chair of the board of BAEO, and to Lawrence C. Patrick III, president and chief executive officer of BAEO, at an event at the West Oak Lane Charter School in Philadelphia.

"This partnership is a perfect match," Undersecretary Hickok said.  "BAEO is all about creating opportunities in education -- opportunities that can change lives. And the No Child Left Behind Act is creating opportunities in education -- opportunities that will transform America." 

"This grant is one of many vital components that will enable us to advance BAEO's work and its mission," Patrick said.

"I remain convinced that history is on the side of the families and their right to make choices for their children.  These types of contributions -- this grant -- enable us to continue to fight these fights for these parents and these children," Fuller said.

The grant will be used to develop a public outreach campaign to inform families about the education options available to them under the landmark No Child Left Behind Act.  BAEO will especially focus on cities with high concentrations of low-income blacks and low-performing schools.

The project is expected to reach at least 20,000 eligible parents and community members in economically disadvantaged, at-risk communities in Dallas, Detroit, Milwaukee and Philadelphia. 

"This campaign is an excellent opportunity to really reach parents with information that can literally change their child's future," Hickok said.  "We want to change the conversation about parental choice by positively influencing individuals who are resisting parental choice options and get them to reconsider their outlook.  All children should have the opportunity to receive a quality education -- regardless of race or income."

The full-scale media campaign will use direct mail, television, radio, newspapers, the Internet and door-to-door visits.  BAEO also will provide direct assistance to eligible parents through call centers and local volunteer corps. 

"Education is a multi-pronged effort for BAEO," Patrick said.  "First and foremost, we are fighting to adequately educate low-income black children.  Second, we need to educate the parents about all of the available options.  And third, we need to educate the policymakers, the media and the naysayers on why this movement is necessary."

The grant is from the Fund for the Improvement of Education, which supports nationally significant programs and projects to improve the quality of education, and to help all students meet challenging standards.  Activities funded by FIE grants provide professional, curriculum and assessment development, and demonstration programs aimed at improving elementary and secondary education.

Under the No Child Left Behind Act, which President Bush signed in January, states and school districts will develop strong systems of accountability based upon student performance. The new law also gives states and school districts increased local control and flexibility, removing federal red tape and bureaucracy and putting decision making in the hands of those at the local and state levels.

With the start of this new school year, parents of children from disadvantaged backgrounds have options under the new law to participate in public school choice programs or obtain supplemental services such as tutoring.  And, teachers around the country are encouraged to use teaching methods based upon scientific research that show they have been proven to work.

The Black Alliance for Educational Options, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a national, nonprofit membership organization, whose mission is to actively support parental choice to empower families and increase educational options for black children.  BAEO, which announced its formation on Aug. 24, 2000, has chapters in 30 cities in 20 states and the District of Columbia.  For more information, visit www.baeo.org or contact (202) 544-9870.

More information about the No Child Left Behind Act is available at www.ed.gov/nclb/landing.jhtml?src=pb.

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