tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92062145222913448402011-09-02T23:52:31.687-04:00Concerned Black Parents, Inc.CBP envisions an America to be revered, which leads the global world in strong public schools that graduate students prepared for college, a career and service; where African American student academic equity, achievement and success are the norm and not the exception to the rule; a homeland where parents and teachers collaborate to ensure that the academic achievement gap is recognized as only history. Idealistic? We landed on the moon and elected a black president. We can do this too.Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comBlogger341100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-10166639079297591532011-01-18T15:32:00.000-05:002011-01-18T15:32:07.734-05:00Roberts Brothers---Building a Legacy of African American WealthPublic schools across the United States prepare children for the workforce as employees or specialists, such as carpenters, engineers, lawyers or doctors. The set up is that students attend school for thirteen years, graduate from high school qualified for college success (without a need for remediation courses) and move into a career and the middle-class. Schools provide core content curriculum Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-41349989611488933792011-01-14T22:32:00.002-05:002011-01-14T22:45:41.977-05:00On second thought--”The time for justice, freedom and equality is always right now”The Great Debaters, starring Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker, is a movie inspired by a true story set in a deep southern Texas town that openly sanctions racism. It epitomizes the struggle “underdog” African American students and teachers experienced to gain an equitable education in an unjust society. A professor and coach, Denzel Washington, cultivates African-Americans to engage their Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-19508596752333278252011-01-14T22:24:00.001-05:002011-01-14T22:47:13.790-05:00Trial date set for racial discrimination case against the Lower Merion School DistrictAfter unsuccessful attempts to mediate a long-standing lawsuit, Concerned Black Parents and several African American families head back to Federal Court in November, 2011 to address the failure of the Lower Merion School District to eradicate the impact of racist and discriminatory policies and practices toward its black students.
On July 30, 2007, Concerned Black Parents. Inc. joined several Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-85210952626737952952010-10-27T12:02:00.005-04:002010-10-27T16:50:10.373-04:00Elected by Unanimous Vote--Virginia Pollard Joins the Lower Merion School BoardIn an historic turn of events on Monday, October 25, 2010, the Lower Merion School District School Board of Directors elected Mrs. Virginia Pollard, an African American, to a position as Board of Director to replace a recently vacated seat by Linda Doucette-Ashman who relocated out of Pennsylvania. People say this moment in time is historic because a wealthy, majority white suburban school Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-30717784134183927122010-10-27T11:08:00.005-04:002010-10-27T18:29:55.242-04:00White House Hosts Science Fair for the First TimeIn an effort to Educate to Innovate, the White House held the first ever Science Fair to recognize middle school and high school students who have created outstanding, innovative science, technology, and engineering projects. A diverse group of students from schools across the nation converged on the White House on October 18 to demonstrate their award winning projects to President Obama.
One Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-46574296918835182792010-10-19T23:15:00.005-04:002010-10-20T01:21:36.245-04:00A Word on Special Education--IEPs...well, maybe a few wordsLet’s say, a teacher alerts you that your child is struggling or misbehaving in school. A recommendation for the school psychologist to conduct an education evaluation to determine the underlying cause follows the alert. You agree to the evaluation.After an evaluation, the school psychologist may determine your child has a disability that requires special education support services. If not, all Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-75595278622003997172010-09-10T13:16:00.004-04:002010-09-10T13:49:29.604-04:00Marva CollinsIn an age of the "achievement gap," we should recall the accomplishments of a master teacher, Marva Collins. She profoundly changed the lives of her students by educating them; even those other teachers and administrators thought were learning disabled. This veteran public school teacher, who became disillusioned with schools, unions, and underachievement, refused to relinquish her responsibilityLoraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-46337859425273330562010-09-10T13:01:00.002-04:002010-09-10T13:14:51.260-04:00ASK ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING public information sessionsAre you a parent/guardian who's concerned about the academic achievement of your Lower Merion public school student?Do you need a second pair of eyes to review your child's IEP, GIEP or 504 Agreement?Are you concerned about whether your child is on grade level?Is your child enrolled in courses called ISL, math labs, "active" or remediation? That's right. Lower Merion students, parents, guardians Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-92196345448363042722010-05-11T17:02:00.003-04:002010-05-11T17:28:49.184-04:00President Obama Delivers Commencement Address to Hampton UMother's Day, May 9, 2010, took on new meaning as President Barack Obama delivered the commencement address to Hampton University students and attendees. He highlighted the importance of obtaining a college education for each individual, but also that their achievement impacts the nation as well as the global community. Obama reminded attendees of a statement made by Frederick Douglass that stillLoraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-63231254362039645752010-05-06T11:07:00.006-04:002010-05-06T11:58:19.907-04:00Education Summit to Focus on School Discipline and the Pipeline to College ReadinessConcerned Black Parents and the Zion Youth Advisory Council are hosting the fourth and final Education Summit: The Village Takes Responsibility Part IV Explore the Impact of School Discipline on Academic Achievement and Success--What YOU should know & think about on Saturday, May 8, 2010. Feature presentations begin at 10:00 am with Umar Abdallah-Johnson, school psychologist; Sonja Kerr, civil Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-29001584299414394342010-05-06T10:51:00.003-04:002010-05-06T11:07:35.196-04:00Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Proposes Increase in Title I Funding for Family EngagementOn May 5, 2010, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced the Education Department's proposal to increase Title I funding targeted toward enhancing family engagement in public schools. Schools receiving Title I federal funds are required to designate 1 percent of that amount toward parents and family communication, collaboration, relations, and engagement. That 1 percent funding level Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-70610604470392569562010-04-27T18:20:00.004-04:002010-04-27T18:34:01.040-04:002010 Conference on the State of Education in PennsylvaniaRegister now to attend the 2010 Conference on the State of Education in Pennsylvania on Saturday, May 1, 2010. The conference features several outstanding experts speaking to topics ranging from the high stakes tests to the Education Empowerment Act to National Core Standards and the Keystone Exams. The Youth Strand presentations will empower youth to move forward with a purpose and plan and to Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-55512606600944011722010-03-31T14:28:00.007-04:002010-03-31T21:12:28.498-04:00Federal Government to Invest in Students, Ousts Banks as Middle ManThe federal government has guaranteed payment of student loans to banks for many years, but that has changed with the stroke of the presidential pen. With this change to the loan system, the federal government will no longer subsidize banks. Rather students will now go directly to the federal government to obtain loans to attend college. President Barack Obama eliminated banks as the middleman, Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-14124722760304835782010-03-15T22:51:00.005-04:002010-03-15T23:47:19.362-04:00Obama to Overhaul Education Law & Shake Up No Child Left BehindIn his March 13th weekly address, President Barack Obama announced his plan to overhaul the nation's education law, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that's well recognized as the No Child Left Behind law of 2002. The shift is away from student profiency by 2014 to holding teachers, principals, schools and states accountable to prepare students to be college and career ready and preparedLoraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-12124018058535781972010-02-20T16:04:00.003-05:002010-02-20T16:30:45.544-05:00USA to Become First in World in College Completion by 2020Building Blocks to 2020 is one of President Obama's many initiatives to reform public education in the United States. The goal is to make the USA first in the world in college completion. No more college dropouts. Well, sounds a bit ambitious. What will it take to transform a child in 2010 into a college graduate and working adult by 2020? At least, independent colleges are willing to work with Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-11967707501396051652010-02-20T15:38:00.002-05:002010-02-20T16:00:07.463-05:00House to Start Hearings on Reauthorization of NCLBOn Thursday, February 18, 2010 in Washington, D.C., Democratic and Republican leaders of the House Education and Labor Committee announced plans for "a bipartisan, open and transparent effort to rewrite No Child Left Behind" federal education law, the current version of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).The House wants to hear your thoughts and recommendations. They will start Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-58163479643828868332010-01-23T15:06:00.006-05:002010-01-23T17:00:25.947-05:00High School Competency Graduation Exit Exams Become PA State LawAs of the January 9, 2010 issue of The Pennsylvania Bulletin, the Keystone Exams are officially and finally approved as high school competency graduation exit exams. Pennsylvania's public school students and school staff will join those from 28 states who are required or are in the process of implementing state-prescribed high school comprehensive exams as high school graduation requirements. Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-52906460772847016932009-12-30T14:22:00.005-05:002009-12-30T14:53:49.651-05:00CBP & Zion Baptist Youth Council to Host Education Summit: The Village Takes Responsibility Part II Plan to attend and share the word...The Lower Merion School District administrators will be featured presenters at the Education Summit--The Village Takes Responsibility Part II on Saturday, January 9, 2010 from 9:15am-3pm at 92 Greenfield Avenue in Ardmore, PA 19010. Concerned Black Parents and the Zion Baptist Youth Advisory Council are co-hosting the summit on behalf of all concerned Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-5859527646158754282009-10-25T21:52:00.005-04:002009-10-26T00:31:38.475-04:00As Predicted--PA Regulators Approve High School Graduation Competency "Keystone" ExamsIn 2005, Governor Rendell established the Commission on College and Career Success (CCCS report) and gave them the responsibility to study and produce recommendations to increase the numbers of Pennsylvanians who earn a diploma indicative of a world-class student ready to graduate from high school and enter the new global economy or prepared to succeed in college. Their primary recommendation wasLoraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-32242231184084919592009-09-23T19:16:00.004-04:002009-09-23T21:51:41.846-04:00Legislative Watch: Reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice and Deliquency Prevention Act of 1974 (JJDPA)(JJDPA) - 'The Juvenile Justice and Deliquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2009 is up to be reauthorized through FY2014; it is an Amendment to the same Act of 1974. In Pennsylvania, Senator Arlen Specter is a co-sponsor of this Bill. Contact him and encourage him to stick with it. Take the time to learn more about juvenile justice and the Pipeline to Prison.Here's what it does:Requires the Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-59381314751372461792009-09-10T15:57:00.004-04:002009-09-10T16:29:29.729-04:00News Parents Can Use---America Goes Back to School: A National Town Hall Meeting with Arne Duncan - Tuesday, September 15, 2009, 8-9 p.m.U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is traveling throughout the country to engage a broad group of stakeholders-including parents-in an open and honest conversation about federal education policy in anticipation of the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Already, the secretary has met with hundreds of mothers and fathers, students, teachers, principals, education Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-49172108131697994222009-09-04T12:50:00.001-04:002009-09-04T12:56:04.932-04:00PA Courts Deny African American Students Class Action CertificationIn a Memorandum dated August 19, 2009, Chief Justice Harvey Bartle, of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, denied class certification to plaintiffs, including six African American students and their parents, the NAACP—Main Line Branch, and Concerned Black Parents. The case was filed on July 30, 2007 by the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia (PILCOP)Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-61347687010977641742009-08-18T22:01:00.002-04:002009-08-18T22:06:34.707-04:00PA State Board of Education Approves High School Graduation Exit Exams with 14-2 VotePennsylvania's Board of Education voted 14:2 to approve the Keystone Exams, high school graduation competency exit exams, despite the recent resistance by school boards, organizations, and politicians across the state since its proposal a couple of years ago.The Board of Education's approval should not come as a surprise. The year-long moratorium was lifted in June. Senate Education Committee Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-28527289866895484072009-08-05T20:19:00.003-04:002009-08-18T20:00:53.266-04:00AFRICAN AMERICAN TEENAGER WINS CASE AGAINST LOWER MERION SCHOOLS: She is to be compensated for the loss of years of meaningful educationAfter listening to testimony over eight days, an administrative hearing officer ruled that the Lower Merion School District denied its 17-year old African American high school student, C.H., a free and appropriate public education, June 2009. C.H. is a student with learning disabilities in mathematics, reading and writing. She aspires to attend college. Her compensation includes, but is not Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-85986993501373127212009-08-05T20:12:00.002-04:002009-08-05T20:18:45.534-04:00ACADEMIC TRACKING: Segregated access to knowledge…hurts!Academic tracking is not just a canker sore in our schools; it’s an educational system of segregation that’s like a “curable” cancer that if left unchecked leads to the demise of vulnerable citizens—our children. The 21st century public education system’s challenges include closing the academic achievement gaps that persist between the races and classes. School administrators, educators, and Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-49637337430951711112009-07-30T17:39:00.006-04:002009-07-30T18:18:42.967-04:00Got a child who wants to play college sports? Does your child's high school course roster qualify for NCAA eligibility?If your child wants to play college sports, especially basketball, make sure s/he is carry a high school course load and level that is acceptable to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Many African American students desire a college or career experience that centers around sports, while all too many fall short of the academic rigor/curriculum that is acceptable in the NCAA Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-57012159630328918142009-07-30T16:21:00.005-04:002009-07-30T16:33:04.986-04:00Children's Defense Fund Cradle to Prison Pipeline Facts on PennsylvaniaMarch 2009The Children's Defense Fund Cradle to Prison Pipeline® Campaign is a national and community crusade to engage families, youths, communities and policy makers in the development of healthy, safe and educated children. Poverty, racial disparities and a culture of punishment rather than prevention and early intervention are key forces driving thepipeline.PovertyPoor children lag behind Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-72877346835255856252009-05-21T19:00:00.010-04:002009-05-21T19:40:14.928-04:00PA NAACP Branches Oppose Proposed State Mandating of High School Graduation Exit ExamsAs Pennsylvania's Governor Edward Rendell and the Department of Education forge ahead to ensure the viability of the Keystone Exams by awarding a $201 million dollar contract to Data Recognition, a Minnesota corporation with extensive lobbying forces in Harrisburg, to create the high stakes public high school graduation competency assessments, the NAACP along with state legislators and other Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-6431699725447434312009-05-21T11:43:00.013-04:002009-05-21T12:47:01.071-04:00Lower Merion School District Charged with "Redistricting" Racial DiscriminationLower Merion, PA--Families of nine African American students residing in the South Ardmore section of Lower Merion filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit with the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against the Lower Merion School District alleging that its high school Redistricting "3-R" Plan that was approved in January discriminates against black students by Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-75795404083487001282009-04-27T11:17:00.008-04:002009-04-27T15:35:23.402-04:00High School Graduation Requirements Updated--Keystone Exams 2.0"The problem you've got is districts aren't doing as well as they might in getting kids educated well. If you suddenly implement high-stakes exams and kids can't graduate, you're penalizing the kids for the failures of the school system," Dr. Alan Lesgold, dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of EducationThere's an ongoing dialogue/debate about high school graduation requirements between Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-68807206123362740552009-04-08T13:09:00.006-04:002009-04-08T13:21:56.419-04:00Children and TV: Limiting your child's screen timeChildren and TV often go hand in hand. Understand the effects of too much screen time — and how to enforce reasonable limits.By Mayo Clinic staffAre you concerned about how much time your child spends watching TV or playing video games? Although some screen time can be educational, it's easy to go overboard. Consider this guide to children and TV, including how to limit your child's screen Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-52483347781189665162009-04-05T21:08:00.006-04:002009-04-06T21:48:25.422-04:00Dismantle the Cradle to Prison (from schools) PipelineJoin Marian Wright Edelman, President of the Children's Defense Fund (CDF), in the campaign to dismantle The Cradle to Prison Pipeline. CDF has become the nation's strongest voice for children and families. This campaign is a national and community crusade to engage families, youth, community leaders and institutions and those in power in every sector in the development of healthy, educated Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-74632731724268220862009-04-01T13:55:00.007-04:002009-04-01T14:26:36.561-04:00The Main Line Education Monologues: Dreams Deferred or Realized documentary showing on PATVThe film documentary The Main Line Education Monologues: Dreams Deferred or Realized provides viewers a snapshot of the experience of twenty African American Lower Merion School District alumni who are graduates from the classes of 1952 through 1999. First viewed in 2006 at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute to a standing room only audience, viewers can catch the film on Lower Merion and Narberth's Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-64167766534506375812009-03-31T21:51:00.087-04:002009-04-06T00:27:02.880-04:00Government Mandated High School Proficiency "Exit" Exams Coming Soon to a School Near You"We have allowed diplomas to be awarded to students who have not been able to demonstrate basic levels of preparedness for life beyond high school for too long by handing out ‘empty’ diplomas, we are cheating our children and our commonwealth." Dr. Gerald Zahorchak, Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Pennsylvania state law passed last July established a one-year moratorium on any regulations Loraine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16754438729880315551noreply@blogger.com