Reforming America's high schools and career and technical education will be topics of the U.S. Education Department's monthly TV show, "Education News Parents Can Use," airing Tuesday and available on broadcast, satellite and cable outlets as well as the Web.

The program will feature interviews with department officials and guests on how the landmark No Child Left Behind Act is helping advance the quality of instruction in high schools, improve teacher preparation and prepare students for college and careers.

A number of cable services across the nation will carry the program -- many live -- from 8-9 p.m., EDT. In Washington, the show will appear live on Channel 28, the D.C. Public Schools cable channel.

A complete listing of viewer options is posted at http://registerevent.ed.gov/. In addition, the program will be webcast at www.connectlive.com/events/ednews/.

"This program will give parents some examples of innovative ideas in education and help them assess school improvement efforts in their area," said U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige. "The world is evolving rapidly. Our high schools must keep up with the changes so that our students are able to compete in a new and complex world."

Tuesday night's show will include:

• Remarks from President Bush about the need to ensure that all students graduate from high school with the skills and knowledge necessary to compete in a global economy.
• A profile of Dougherty Comprehensive High School in Albany, Ga. Dougherty is a Title I distinguished school where 89 percent of students are eligible for free or reduced price school lunch. A few years ago, the school adopted the "High Schools That Work" reform model and significantly improved achievement and graduation rates.

During Tuesday's show, parents can find out how to help adolescents with their reading skills. Experts will discuss how parents can ensure that their children are taking the appropriate courses for their postsecondary and career goals.

Guests include: Susan Sclafani, counselor to Secretary Paige and assistant secretary for vocational and adult education; Jan Somerville, director of the National Association of System Heads (NASH)/Education Trust; and Phyllis Eisen, executive director of the Center for Workforce Success with the National Association of Manufacturers.

Also, Horace Reid Jr., principal of Dougherty Comprehensive High School in Albany, Ga., Albany Superintendent Sally Whatley; Peggy McCardle, from the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development; Jim McPartland, director of the Center for Social Organization of Schools at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore; and Monica Martinez, director of the Network for the Advancement of Secondary with the Education at the Institute for Educational Leadership.

Details about the "Education News Parents Can Use" TV series can be found at http://www.ed.gov/news/av/video/edtv/index.html.

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