COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

PRINS. MEMO NO. 29

September 16, 2003

ELEMENTARY / MIDDLE / SECONDARY

TO:	Principals
FROM:	Patricia I. Wright Assistant Superintendent for Instruction
SUBJECT:	Voter Participation Program and Scholarship Opportunity for Secondary Schools

The U.S. Secretary of Education, Rod Paige, requests the assistance of high school principals and superintendents in promoting their schools involvement in a voter participation program. The goal is to achieve the largest voter turnout ever in a non-presidential election year in 2003 and increase the participation of younger voters. The National Advisory Council of Freedoms Answer provides suggestions to help accomplish this goal.

High schools can obtain information on how to develop a voter participation program in their schools by going to the website for Freedoms Answer at http://www.FreedomsAnswer.net.

Freedoms Answer is also sponsoring a writing competition in which 50 students will be awarded a $1000 scholarship. Information on the competition can be found at the above website.

For further information contact Colleen C. Bryant (cbryant@mail.vak12ed.edu), secondary history and social science specialist, at (804) 786-4640.

PIW/CCB/ec