Reading, Writing and a Worthwhile Education for Kansas Kids

The Kansas Learning First Alliance (KLFA) & KTWU TV11 Team Up to Present “Reading, Writing and a Worthwhile Education for Kansas Kids”

KEY FACTS:

What: “Reading, Writing & a Worthwhile Education for Kansas Kids” Watch & Talk Parties

When: September 23, 2009

Where: Watch & Talk parties are being hosted around Kansas. For a party near you or to host a party, go to www.klfa.org.

Our world is changing and Kansas students need to be prepared to meet that change. The conversation about how that should be accomplished within our public school system is a very large and multifaceted topic. It will require a great deal of discussion among educational leaders, policymakers, business representatives, parents, educators and taxpayers. “Reading, Writing and a Worthwhile Education for Kansas Kids” is the beginning of that conversation in a statewide project with two parts:

Part One/The Program: This one-hour televised program, airing September 23 on KTWU TV11 at 7:00 p.m., will be divided into three panels (educators, parents, and business representatives) all of whom will be discussing what they believe should be the educational priorities in Kansas in order for students to be prepared for the 21st century. For a listing of public broadcasting stations airing the program and times, go to www.ktwu.org

Part Two/The Discussion at local Watch & Talk Parties: To initiate conversations about educational priorities, “Watch and Talk” parties will be held immediately after the program is viewed or at a later date of the host’s choosing.

Who can participate in a “Watch and Talk Party?” – Anyone! Click www.klfa.org to find a public Watch and Talk Party to attend. Please let the host know that you will be attending. KSDE is a member of KLFA and is encouraging anyone with a listserv to invite groups to attend or sponsor a “Watch and Talk” party. Also, state board members have been invited by KLFA to attend a party. Please encourage non educators to attend the parties.

After September 23rd

If you cannot attend or host a “Watch and Talk” party on September 23rd, you have permission to record the program, request a DVD or download a copy from iTunes University. You are encouraged to have party with interested stakeholders. One example is site council meetings. The program will be available through February 2010.

This broadcast is being sponsored by:

KLFA

The Kansas Learning First Alliance (KLFA) is a coalition of organizations in Kansas representing school boards, administrators, teachers and teacher educators, parents and the Kansas State Department of Education. Kansas became the first state to have a partnership affiliated with the national Learning First Alliance when KLFA was founded in 1999. The organization’s purpose is to unite the education community to improve our outstanding public education system, pre-K through higher education, to empower each Kansan to succeed in the diverse, interdependent world of the 21st century.

KTWU-TV

KTWU has been broadcasting local public television in eastern Kansas and portions of Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma since 1965 with the distinction of being the first public television station in Kansas. Viewers are served with Channel 11 offering three distinct and different broadcast options: KTWU in high definition; KTWU/MHz Worldview; and KTWU ENHANCE. KTWU is also broadcast on K30AL-LD translator channel in southeast Kansas. The station license is held by Washburn University with studios located on the Washburn campus in Topeka, Kansas. More information and programming details can be found at the station website at ktwu.org.

Kansas Learning First Alliance Educational Foundation Inc – Is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organized to support, financially or otherwise, the concept of building an educational coalition dedicated to pursuing a common agenda to improve Kansas public education.