Tom Hanks, Common to campaign for American schools

Tom Hanks, Samuel L. Jackson, Common and Jennifer Hudson are among the celebrities participating in an hour-long live television special about reinventing American high schools.

The stars will be joined by more than two dozen celebrities slated to appear on the EIF Presents: XQ Super School Live special that will air on all four major broadcast networks simultaneously on September 8.

The special will highlight the efforts of the XQ Institute, which was co-founded by a former assistant education secretary in President Barack Obama’s administration.

It’s slated to include live music, comedy sketches and documentary segments.

Hudson, Sheryl Crow and Yo-Yo Ma are among the scheduled musical performers.

Oscar-winner Viola Davis and her actor-producer husband Julius Tennon are executive producers of the show.