The U.S. Department of Education's monthly TV show, "Education News Parents Can Use," opens its 2008-09 season tonight with a back-to-school special profiling key strategies for improving student achievement and a message from U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings.

Examples of schools that have closed the achievement gap and helped students succeed will be spotlighted, as well as tips from outstanding teachers who are part of the Education Department's Teaching Ambassador Fellowship program.

The program will be carried from 8 to 9 p.m. EDT tonight on the Dish Network, dozens of PBS stations and numerous cable outlets. Others, including The Learning Channel, will broadcast the show on a tape-delayed basis. A complete listing of viewing options is available at www.ed.gov/edtv. In addition, the program will be available via archived webcast at www.connectlive.com/events/ednews/.

Among the guests will be four of the 25 Education Department Teaching Ambassador Fellows. These outstanding classroom teachers will discuss improving learning and helping all students achieve. They will also talk about how to use test data to target instruction and get results, as well as suggest tips and resources for parents to help ensure their children succeed this academic year.

The broadcast will address such questions as:

• What can parents do at home and at school to keep their children on track for success?
• What questions should parents ask of their child's teachers and school leaders?
• How does No Child Left Behind support parent involvement and engagement at the local level?
• How does No Child Left Behind promote standards, accountability, and competitiveness in education?
• What strategies have proven most effective in closing academic achievement gaps?
• How does No Child Left Behind promote a results-based culture in schools?
• How does NCLB empower families to make the best educational choices for their children?
• What are some effective practices for recognizing and compensating highly effective teachers?
• What is the Teaching Ambassador Fellowship Program and how does it contribute to improving U.S. education?

Participants include U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings (pre-recorded), as well as principals and teachers recognized for improving student achievement:

• Julie Shively, a fourth- and fifth-grade gifted math teacher from Lawrenceville, Ga.
• Jonathan Eckert, a seventh-grade science teacher at Poplar Grove 5-8 Middle School in Franklin, Tenn.
• Steven Hicks, a kindergarten and first-grade teacher at Accelerated Charter School in Los Angeles, Calif.
• Bobbi Houtchens, a high school English and English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher at Arroyo Valley High School in San Bernardino, Calif.
• Irene Kordick, principal at Ocean City Elementary School in Ocean City, Md.
• Zeda George, head of school, at International Studies Elementary Charter School in Albany, Ga.
• Irene Williams, principal of Fairfield Court Elementary School in Richmond, Va.

The "Education News Parents Can Use" TV series airs monthly during the school year.

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