The U.S. Education Department's monthly TV show, "Education News Parents Can Use," opens its 2005-06 season by spotlighting Hurricane Katrina's impact on schools, closing the achievement gap and providing tips for parents on how to help their children succeed in high school.

The program is available live from 8 to 9 p.m. EDT Tuesday on the Dish Network, some PBS stations and numerous cable outlets. Others will broadcast the show on a tape-delayed basis. A complete listing of viewing options is available at http://www.ed.gov/news/av/video/edtv/ways-watch.html. In addition, the program will be webcast live and archived at www.connectlive.com/events/ednews/.

Secretary Spellings will open the program with a taped conversation on the Education Department's extensive efforts to help the Gulf Coast recover from Hurricane Katrina. Spellings and the department have undertaken a number of initiatives to ensure that students displaced by Hurricane Katrina can continue their education and achieve academically. The Bush administration is proposing up to $2.6 billion in funding to affected elementary, secondary and postsecondary institutions in the Gulf Region as well as schools taking in displaced students. More information on assistance for students and schools affected by the hurricane is available at "Hurricane Help for Schools." http://hurricanehelpforschools.gov/index.html.

Following her comments, Assistant Secretary Henry Johnson, who previously served as Mississippi's chief state school officer, will address the hurricane relief efforts, as well as discuss why the No Child Left Behind school improvement efforts should be expanded to high schools.

Gene Bottoms, senior vice president of the Southern Regional Education Board, will talk about effective high school programs that help students stay in school and prepare for an education beyond high school. Kathleen Clark, principal of the California Academy of Mathematics and Science (CAMS), on the campus of California State University-Dominguez Hills, will discuss how -- in conjunction with the university and business community -- the school community has developed a rigorous academic program and structure that has eliminated the academic achievement gap amongst their highly diverse student population and spurred achievement.

And, the final segment will offer tips and resources to help parents help their children succeed in middle and high school and prepare them for college. Guests include:

• Jason Kamras, National Teacher of the Year (taped).
• Esther Parker, president of the Maryland PTA.
• Ayeola Boothe Kinlaw, director of The College Board's AP Equity and Access Initiatives. And,
• Bea Fernandez, coordinator, San Diego Parent University, San Diego City Schools.

The "Education News Parents Can Use" TV series airs monthly during the school year. Details can be found at http://www.ed.gov/news/av/video/edtv/index.html.

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