The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, acting as the central
education office of Smithsonian, has been actively involved in developing
relationships between museums and public schools. In one of our newest
programs, the Smithsonian Museum Magnet School project, we hired an
individual to oversee its operations by working as an employee of the
District of Columbia Public Schools and Smithsonian. Supported by a
grant from the US Department of Education, two magnet schools are being
created out of two pre-existing Washington (DC) schools. The elementary
school (Brent) will be opening next week and the middle school
(Stuart-Hobson) next year as museum magnet schools.

Of course, these are not the first magnet schools in the United States.
Our program has been modeled after the work done in New York City and
St. Paul, MN. Many other magnet schools will be opening soon in other
parts of the United States.

If you have any questions regarding the Smithsonian/DC Public School
Magnet School program, you can contact Maria Marable by email
([log in to unmask]) or by phone (202/357-4542). You can also check
out our web page http://educate.si.edu for more information on the
project.

Bruce Underwood
Education Specialist (OESE)

Bruce Underwood               Ofc of Elem & Secondary Education
Education Specialist          A&I 1163, MRC 402
Smithsonian Institution       Washington, DC    20560
202/357-4542; 357-4908-fax    e-mail: [log in to unmask]