hear from robert pondicio, who is a senior fellow and vice president of external affairs at the thomas b. fordham institute. he is also a former senior adviser to democracy prep public charter schools and charters based in harlem, new york. he writes and speaks extensively on education and education reform issues, with an emphasis on literacy, curriculum, and urban education. after 20 years in journalism, including senior citizens at "time" and "business week," he became a fifth-grade teacher at a struggling south bronx school. he also served as vice president for the core knowledge foundation. finally, regina weldon ford, who founded d.c. for choice. it is a health organization for parents in washington, d.c., and that founding led to the successful establishment of the d.c. opportunity scholarship program, a school choice option in the nation's capital. she is also a founding member of the black alliance for educational options and served on the d.c. advisory committee for the civil rights commission. she currently serves on the board of the freedman foundation and the arkansas connections acad

remarks, we will is afrom robert, who senior fellow and vice president of external affairs at the thomas b fordham institute. he is also a former senior adviser to democracy public charter schools and charters based in harlem, new york. he writes and speaks extensively on education and education reform is sous, -- issues. after 20 years in journalism, including senior citizens at time and business week, he became a fifth-grade teacher at a struggling south bronx school. forerved as vice president the knowledge foundation. virginia,egina, -- .ho founded d.c. for choice it is a health organization for parents and washington, d.c., and that founding led to the successful establishment of the d.c. opportunity scholarship ingram, school choice option the nation's capital. she is also a founding member of andblack anions -- alliance served on the d.c. advisory committee for the civil rights commission. she is also a member of the inat -- breakthrough network d.c. as well p she currently serves on the board of the freeman foundation and the connections academy. she is executive director of the arkansas i

foaling max's remarks we'll hear from probt pondiscio who is a vice president at the thomas b. fordham institute. he's a former visadviser. he writes and speaks extensively on education and reform issues with an emphasis on literacy, curriculum, teaching and urban education. after 20 years in journalism including senior positions at time and business week, robert became a fifth grade teacher as a struggling south bronx public school in 2002. he subsequently served as vice president for the core knowledge foundation. finally we'll hear from ms. ford which say clearinghouse organization for parents in washington, d.c. and, that founding led to the successful establishment of the d.c. opportunity sclalship program, a school choice option right here in the nation's capital. virginia is also a founding member of the black alliance for educational option and serves on the d.c. advisory committee for the u.s. civil rights commission. she's also a member of the break through network, the booker t. charter network noption d.c. as well. she currently serves on the board of the milton and rose d.