Ensuring that every child has a highly qualified teacher will be the focus of tonight's monthly U.S. Department of Education TV show, available on various television networks, cable outlets and at downlink sites across the country.

This month's "Education News Parents Can Use" show will be broadcast live from 8-9 p.m. EDT and carried on the Web at www.connectlive.com/events/ednews/. A full listing of viewing options is available at http://registerevent.ed.gov/.

"Quite simply, teachers are the most significant factor in student achievement," said U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige. "Under the landmark No Child Left Behind Act, teachers must be highly qualified. This show will help parents understand their right to have good teachers, and educators will learn about the resources and innovative programs available to help them meet this challenge in even the most disadvantaged schools."

Guests will address such questions as:

-- How can a parent find out if their child's teacher is highly qualified?

-- What are the best ways schools and parents can communicate feedback?

-- What are the challenges teachers face in the classroom today?

-- How can parents and community organizations help ensure teachers are prepared to teach?

This month's broadcast features taped remarks by First Lady Laura Bush on her experiences as a public school teacher.

Among the guests will be Susan Sclafani, counselor to the secretary of education; Pat Atkins, parent and school board member in Waco, Texas; and Stephanie Robinson, principal partner in The Education Trust, a Washington, D.C.-based education improvement organization.

In addition: Kathy Madigan, president of the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence in Washington; Larry Abraham, chair of curriculum and instruction at the University of Texas College of Education; Kaya Henderson, regional director of The New Teacher Project; and Richard Berm??dez, a sixth-grade teacher at Palmer Way Elementary in National City, Calif.

The program will also have a taped conversation between Secretary Paige and San Diego City Schools Superintendent Alan Bersin who will discuss ways to address the current teacher shortage.

"Education News Parents Can Use" offers one-on-one interviews, how-to demonstrations, and brief conversations with parents, educators, community, business and religious leaders, and education experts. As always, viewers can call in their questions to a phone number that will be posted on the screen.

The show is broadcast on the third Tuesday of every month during the school year. Besides local cable systems, the program is carried live on the Dish Network, and is rebroadcast nationally on the Discovery Network's TLC (The Learning Channel), the Channel One Network, and various Public Broadcasting Service stations.

Details about the series are available at: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OIIA/television/index.html.

Future broadcasts will address special education (May 20), and educational technology (June 17).

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