Release of ‘Where We Learn’ on March 30: A New and In-Depth Research Study on Urban School Climate

News Advisory:

The National School Boards Association’s Council of Urban Boards of Education will release findings of its largest-ever research study, Where We Learn, which surveyed how students feel about their urban school environments. Fifteen urban school districts in 13 states participated in this study that surveyed nearly 32,000 students to gauge their perceptions about school safety; bullying; trust, respect, and ethos of caring; racial self-concept; and general climate. The news conference will present highlights of the research findings as well as a local perspective from the leaders of the Baltimore County Public Schools, which was a participating district in the survey.

The full report, Where We Learn, can be accessed at the following link: http://www.nsba.org/cube/WhereWeLearn

Please note that the report is embargoed until its official release on March 30, 2006.

WHEN: Thursday, March 30, 2006 at 10 a.m.

WHERE: National Press Club (First Amendment Lounge), 529 14th St., NW, Washington, D.C.

WHO:

Anne L. Bryant, executive director, National School Boards Association (NSBA);

Brian Perkins, chairman, Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE) and principal investigator of Where We Learn;

Warren Hayman, school board member, Baltimore County, Md., Schools;

Joe Hairston, superintendent, Baltimore County, Md., Schools

DETAILS:

The news conference will be available by videostream at http:// www.nsba.org beginning at 5 p.m. on March 30. School districts whose students participated in the survey follow:

— Baltimore County Public Schools, Baltimore, Md.

— Cartwright School District No. 83, Phoenix, Ariz.

— Chicago Public Schools, Chicago, Ill.

— Fort Bend School District, Sugar Land, Texas

— Grand Rapids Public Schools, Grand Rapids, Mich.

— Isaac School District No. 5, Phoenix, Ariz.

— Lincoln Public Schools, Lincoln, Neb.

— Mobile County Public Schools, Mobile, Ala.

— New Haven Public Schools, New Haven, Conn.

— Orleans Parish Public Schools, New Orleans, La.

— Portsmouth Public Schools, Portsmouth, Va.

— Saint Paul Public Schools, Saint Paul, Minn.

— San Francisco Unified School District, San Francisco, Calif.

— Tulsa Public Schools, Tulsa, Okla.

— Ysleta Independent School District, El Paso, Texas

Respond to Linda Embrey by e-mailing press(At)nsba.org or calling NSBA’s press office at 703-838-6737.

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