CONTACT: Sarah Granofsky Toce Executive Director Wisconsin Charter Schools Association (617) 416-7924

For Immediate Release

Wisconsin Charter School Educators to Participate in Professional Development tour of China

Madison, WI June 16, 2011 The Wisconsin Charter Schools Association (WCSA) has announced that 25 charter school representatives from the state will leave later this month for a Professional Development Tour of China. The group will be visiting the cities of Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai during a 10 day period. The focus of the trip is on Chinese culture and education, and the group aims to learn about the Chinese educational system and bring lessons bring back to Wisconsins charter schools. Those attending the trip include: Al Lindau, founder of TAGOS Academy (Janesville) Skylar Primm, TAGOS Academy (Janesville) Garrett Stangel, Montessori High School, (Milwaukee) Cindy Heinen, Jeanine Claypool, Carla Koepp, Karen Mani, Lake Country Academy (Sheboygan) Marla Hintze, CARE Charter School (Stevens Point) Jenna McCann, Jamie Harpold, Ann Parker, and Kathleen Thompson, Merrimac Community School (Sauk Prairie) Mark Holbrook, IDEA Charter School (DC Everest) Nancy Schaitel, part of the WI Montessori Association (a network of WCSA) Jennifer Koenecke, Fox West Academy (Hortonville) Suzanne Miller, Sparta Lakeview Montessori Sarah Granofsky Toce, Executive Director of the WCSA Sarah Granofsky Toce is the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Charter Schools Association, and commented on the trip. This is a unique opportunity for our Association we have never had an overseas education tour in the past and we are very anxious to learn more about the Asian educational system. Our goal is to observe, ask questions, and learn as much as we can about how China so successfully educates its K-12 student. We will look to bring back and replicate ideas that make sense in charter schools in Wisconsin. Charter schools are a perfect testing ground to for new and different educational methods, and those that are successful can be rolled out to other public schools across our state.

About Wisconsin Public Charter Schools Charter schools are independent public schools that are free to be more innovative and are held accountable for improved student achievement. As of September 2010, there are more than 200 charter schools in operation in Wisconsin, serving approximately 37,000 public school students. About The Wisconsin Charter Schools Association The Wisconsin Charter Schools Association (WCSA) is a statewide member-driven organization serving public charter schools and advocates of public charter schools in Wisconsin. WCSA's mission is to provide the students and parents of Wisconsin with options for quality public education, and to advocate on behalf of quality public charter schools to ensure autonomy, accountability and innovation. Wisconsin Charter Schools Association, P.O. Box 1704, Madison, WI 53701, www.wicharterschools.org; (414) 215-WCSA. ###