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MEDIA ADVISORY:
Capitol Rally to focus on K-12 Education
WHO: 2,500 students, parents, teachers and education advocates.
WHAT: A rally for educational opportunities in the state. Activists will
urge the legislature to pass bills to:
- Turn-around failing schools
- Provide additional new public school choices
- Support alternative routes to teacher certification
WHY: Passing these bills is essential to the state’s goal of being
awarded up to $600 million in “Race to the Top” federal
education incentive funds through ARRA.
10 public charter schools celebrating their 15th anniversaries
will also be recognized with legislative tributes during the rally.
WHEN: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Thursday, September 24, 2009
WHERE: State Capitol Building, Lansing
SPEAKERS: Kevin Chavous, national education reform activist
Sen. Wayne Kuipers (R-Holland), Chair, Education Committee
Sen. Buzz Thomas (D-Detroit), Minority Floor Leader
Rep. Bert Johnson (D-Detroit), Detroit Caucus Chair
Rep. Phil Pavlov (R-St. Clair), MVC, Education Committee
Unique Photo Opportunity
Students participating in the rally will have over 1,000 helium balloons – each representing hundreds of Michigan children falling behind due to the achievement gap for minority students. These balloons will be released immediately after Kevin Chavous speaks at approximately 11:00 am.
NOTE: A satellite uplink with interviews and B-roll will be made available Thursday afternoon for television news stations. Details are forthcoming.
Questions: Gary G. Naeyaert, 517-374-9167 (office), 517-281-2690 (cell) | 
Press Room 
