FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee Receives Champion of Magnet School Excellence Award
Washington, DC, February 7, 2018 – Magnet Schools of America (MSA), the national association for magnet and theme-based schools is pleased to announce that Congresswoman Barbara Lee from the 13th Congressional District of California is the recipient of our Champion of Magnet School Excellence Award.
The Champion of Magnet School Excellence Award recognizes a political leader that demonstrates outstanding national leadership and support for magnet schools. MSA would like to commend Congresswoman Lee for her actions to raise awareness of the alarming trend of segregation that is still occurring in our public schools.
Last fall, Congresswoman Lee took to the floor of Congress to give a passionate speech requesting additional funding for magnet schools this fiscal year. In her remarks she stated, “More than 60 years have passed since Brown v. Board of Education and our nation’s schools and communities still suffer from the vestiges of school segregation and many of our largest school districts remain starkly separated along racial and economic lines. Additional support for magnet programs to promote school integration is long overdue.”
Furthermore, we would like to recognize U.S. Representative Lee for being a vocal advocate for magnet schools through her position on the Budget Committee and the Appropriations Committee, and for actively championing magnet school programs in her state and congressional district.
Magnet Schools of America specifically acknowledges Congresswoman Lee for taking the following actions on behalf of the magnet school community:
“Congresswoman Lee believes that every child, regardless of background and zip code, should receive a first-rate education. As a public servant dedicated to racial equality and social justice, she recognizes that magnet schools effectively close the achievement gap and promote school integration,” said Magnet Schools of America, President Sara Wheeler. “For her dedicated and unwavering support of magnet schools we are proud to name her our 2018 Champion of Magnet School Excellence.”
————————————————————————
For additional information, please contact John Laughner, Legislative and Communications Manager at john.laughner@magnet.edu
About Magnet Schools of America:
Magnet Schools of America (MSA) is a nonprofit education association that represents more than 4,340 magnet schools serving nearly 3.5 million students. MSA was founded in 1986. It supports and serves the leaders and teachers of magnet and theme-based schools, while promoting the development of new magnet programs and public schools of choice.
Raise the level of performance consistent throughout school districts nationwide and creates a platform from which all magnet schools can flourish. Magnet Schools of America’s national certification process is designed to recognize the hard work of the best magnet schools in the nation and to help them as they grow.
