As part of a national effort to highlight the contributions of charter schools, senior U.S. Department of Education officials will celebrate National Charter Schools Week, May 1 to May 7, by visiting charter schools around the country.

The following events have been scheduled in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Innovation and Improvement to celebrate National Charter Schools Week:

Washington, DC
Monday, May 2 at 2:00 p.m. EDT
National Kickoff Event Celebrating National Charter Schools Week MS Word (35K)
Nina S. Rees, Assistant Deputy Secretary, Office of Innovation and Improvement, will unveil the 2005 National Charter Schools Week Presidential Proclamation at Thurgood Marshall Academy. U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and State Senator Teresa Lubbers (R-IN) are scheduled to be in attendance.

Bronx, NY
Monday, May 2 at 12:30 p.m. EDT
Margaret Spellings, U.S. Department of Education Secretary, will tour the KIPP Academy to present the National Charter Schools Week Presidential Proclamation to KIPP Founders Michael Feinberg and Dave Levin. Invitations will also be extended to a local congressional delegation and Mayor Bloomberg.

Woodland Hills, CA
Monday, May 2 at 8:30 a.m. PDT
John Hager, Assistant Secretary, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, will tour CHIME Charter Elementary School. Harry Hellenbrand, Provost and Vice President of California State University Northridge; Philip Rusche, Dean of the School of Education at California State University Northridge; and Laura San Giacomo, Co-Founder, Parent, and Actress.

Denver, CO
Monday, May 2 at 8:40 a.m. MDT
Sally Stroup, Assistant Secretary, Office of Postsecondary Education, will tour the Denver School of Science and Technology.

Philadelphia, PA
Monday, May 2 at 8:45 a.m. EDT
Carolyn Snowbarger, Director of the Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, will tour Mastery Charter High School.

Dearborn, MI
Monday, May 2 at 9:00 a.m. EDT
Darla Marburger, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, will tour Henry Ford Academy. Freddie Scott of the Detroit Lions is scheduled to join her.

Chicago, IL
Wednesday, May 2 at 9:00 a.m. CDT
Jackie Jackson, Director of Student Achievement and School Accountability, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, will tour and give remarks at Noble Street Charter School.

San Diego, CA
Monday, May 2 at 10:00 a.m. PDT
Christina Culver, Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of Intergovernmental and Interagency Affairs, will tour High Tech High. Steven Hayes, former LA Ram and Founder of "Athletes for Education;" Leon White, former San Diego Charger; Karl Wilson, former San Diego Charger; Lonnie Mitchell, former Los Angeles Ram and Caprice Young, President and Chief Executive Director of the California Charter School Association, are scheduled to join her.

San Francisco, CA
Tuesday, May 3 at 9:00 a.m. PDT
Susan Patrick, Director, Office of Educational Technology, will tour Gateway High School.

Wednesday, May 4 at 10:00 a.m. PDT
Michael Petrilli, Associate Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement, will tour City Arts and Technology High School.

Boston, MA
Wednesday, May 4 at 6:00 p.m. EDT
Susan Sclafani, Assistant Secretary, Office of Vocational and Adult Education, will present the President's National Charter Schools Week Proclamation to Honorary Co-Chair of National Charter Schools Week, Governor Mitt Romney, at the Massachusetts Association of Charter Schools' evening gala for charter school students, parents, teachers, and administrators.

Thursday, May 5 at 8:30 a.m. EDT
Susan Sclafani, Assistant Secretary, Office of Vocational and Adult Education, will tour and give remarks at the Media and Technology Charter High School.

Greenville, SC
Thursday, May 5 at 10:00 a.m. EDT
Carolyn Snowbarger, Director of the Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, will tour Greenville Technical High School and give remarks at the school site. U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) and Education Advisor for Governor Mark Sanford, Carmeka Bosket, are scheduled to join her.

Editor's note: Separate media advisories will be available before each day's events. Schedule is subject to change.