LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - July 1, 2009) - "2001 - 2101: The Education Century? Rebuilding Our Economy through Education Reform" is the subject of a one-day conference hosted by TOWN HALL Los Angeles and Corwin Press, Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy.

Widely acknowledged that education is at a crisis level, participants will hear from local and national leaders who will share insights on education reform and existing alternative programs that are working.

The day's schedule includes three panel discussions. Panel 1: Bright Spots in Education includes panelists: Dr. Gary Mangiofico, Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles Universal Preschool; Dr. Peggy O'Brien, Chief of Family & Public Engagement, Chief Communications Officer, District of Columbia Public Schools; The Honorable Paul Pastorek, State Superintendent of Education, Louisiana; and moderator, Eli Broad, Founder, The Broad Foundations.

The luncheon keynote address "California: State of Education?" will be delivered by The Honorable Jack O'Connell, State Superintendent of Public Instruction. After lunch, begins Panel II: The 21st Century Workforce. Panelists include Lisa Barrett, Partner, Teaching Fellow Programs and Training and Certification, The New Teacher Project; Matthew Kramer, President & Chief Program Officer, Teach for America; and Ellen Moir, Executive Director, The New Teacher Center.

The final panel addresses New Solutions to Old Problems: The Charter School Model. Panelists: Angela Bass, Superintendent of Instruction, Los Angeles Unified School District; Dr. Paul F. Cummins, Executive Director, New Visions Foundation/New Roads School; Michael Piscal, Founder and CEO, ICEF Public Schools; and moderator, Jed Wallace, President, California Charter Schools.

TOWN HALL Los Angeles thanks its sponsors of the conference: Corwin Press, The Boeing Company, Northrop Grumman Corporation, School Improvement Network, Bank of the West, Venoco, Inc. and the Wells Fargo Foundation.

One of the Top 10 Leadership Forums in the nation, TOWN HALL Los Angeles has been a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization since 1937, supported by Angelenos, foundations and corporations who believe in open public discussion. To learn more about TOWN HALL Los Angeles visit www.townhall-la.org.

All accredited members of the media are invited to cover this event.
**Please credit TOWN HALL Los Angeles in your coverage.

When:           Tuesday, July 14, 2009
                9:00 AM Registration Opens; 6:00 PM Adjourn

Where:          National Center for the Preservation of Democracy
                111 North Central Avenue
                Los Angeles, CA  90012

Tickets $70-85, call 213.628.8141 or http://www.townhall-la.org/programs/register/1298.