What does being a good citizen mean to you as it relates to public education?

Human resources...teachers, administrators, special education teachers, school librarians, guidance counselors, tutors, mentors, volunteers, parents, and community members; so, what does good citizenship mean to you as it pertains to supporting academic achievement of publicly educated students?

We face an abundance of public school challenges.

Academic achievement is not all about money...really, it's not. Take a look at the Lower Merion School District who has nearly $30,000 per student to spend on educating all students yet there's been a significant achievement gap since the No Child Left Behind legislation.

Talk to me.

Roberts Brothers---Building a Legacy of African American Wealth

Public 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 that is often void of teaching financial literacy. Every now and then, the exceptions to these school rules become models to us, especially when African Americans join the Donald Trumps of the nation.

The Roberts brothers, Steven and Michael, were on track for the middle-class life but veered off into big business and wealth. Unlike their father who retired after 39 years with the U.S. Postal Service, these African American men built a billion dollar empire by building the extra into extraordinary.

"We weren't rich, we weren't poor, but we just never had any money either," says Michael about their upbringing in St. Louis. Today they are among the wealthiest African Americans in the nation. The Roberts Companies consists of more than 70 companies throughout the nation. Their holdings include hotels, television and radio broadcast properties, theatres, telecommunications facilities, shopping centers, some of the finest developed real estate properties, aviation, and much more. They are big business leaders.

Like many African Americans, Michael and Steven Roberts can tell you when they just had two quarters to rub together. Yet like what African Americans are fully capable of accomplishing, they saw beyond what were obvious and created masterpieces out of properties others thought untouchable. They trekked the typical American education route by attending public schools, college, and then law school. As lawyers, Michael and Steven teamed up to advice clients and as elected officials became Aldermen. Their journey beyond ordinary began with the purchase and development of one property in the African American community and continued with multiple purchases in the heart of St. Louis and the nation.

Michael and Steven Roberts are often called on to speak about their success. They enjoy encouraging students to become life-long learners and to identify an area of passion. Start with an idea, learn what there is to know and own it, do the work--sweat equity--of putting ideas into action, and reap the rewards. They would remind students of two key cogent points: there is no retirement in doing what you love to do, and remember the importance of service to others as you build a legacy.

The Roberts are an example of African American success. No longer relegated to sit in the back balcony because she is Black, Mom can sit where ever she wants in the theatre now owned by her sons. Now, that is letting freedom ring from the mountain tops.

On 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 intelligence and leads them to surpass Harvard University’s best and brightest Euro-American students. The power of words becomes sport. Winners take all, including becoming an historical powerhouse.
Although racially segregated water fountains, restaurants and public schools seem to have disappeared in 2010, the nation’s problematic achievement gap between black and white students and suburban and urban academic apartheid demonstrates that a deep-seeded racial divide persists.

“Does segregation of children in public schools solely on the basis of race, even though the physical facilities and other "tangible" factors may be equal, deprive the children of the minority group of equal educational opportunities? We believe that it does” Supreme Court Justice Warren, May 17, 1954

The 1954 Supreme Court decision, offered by Chief Justice Warren, on Brown v. Board of Education and the 2001 federal mandate No Child Left Behind has yet to unravel centuries of wrongs committed against African Americans. We rise in anticipation of the fruition of these inherently moral and democratic rulings that attack the impact of racially segregating children into separate and unequal classrooms, schools, communities, economies, and academic opportunities where access to rich curriculum taught by skilled teachers is the norm.

The lawsuits brought against the Lower Merion School District and won by its African American community are a force for change. So be it we pray lest this time justice, freedom and equality take black students to the education Promised Land that it be by the hand of the Almighty’s “ten plagues and then the Red Sea.”.

Trial date set for racial discrimination case against the Lower Merion School District

After 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 African American students, parents and the NAACP Mainline Branch as plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit against the Lower Merion School District, and later amended the Complaint to add the Pennsylvania Department of Education as defendants. The Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia (PILCOP) originally filed the case with lead attorneys Barbara Ransom and Judy Gran who have since passed the gauntlet to Sonja Kerr. In 2009, the international law firm of DLA Piper joined PILCOP in representing the Lower Merion plaintiffs; thereby adding an outstanding team of lawyers led by Carl Hittinger.

Generally, the Complaint alleges that the School District’s policies and practices caused African American students and the members of the class to fall behind their peers academically.

The Federal Court’s Chief Justice Harvey Bartle, III initial response to the Complaint was to deny the plaintiffs a class standing, to dismiss several plaintiffs, and to insist that all plaintiffs receiving special education services exhaust all remedies and resolve issues under the Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA).

In 2007, the Lower Merion School District tracked students on several academic levels; including modified, standard, honors, advanced placement and the International Baccalaureate. Anecdotal and factual evidence indicates that the majority of African Americans are routinely segregated into the lowest academic levels provided by the school district, with a small handful enrolled in honors, AP or IB courses. Nearly 90 percent of a modified class contained African American students; which is statistically improbable without direct manipulation in a district where these students total 7.5 percent of the entire student body. Today, the District reports the elimination of all modified level courses.

Demonstratively, African American students are not benefiting from the blue-ribbon winning school district where the majority of Euro-American students are in higher-level courses that improve standardized test scores and post-secondary outcomes. This lawsuit intends to even the playing field.

The IDEA and No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), require the District to provide these students access to the same general education curriculum and quality education, which Lower Merion provides to their similarly situated peers.

In an effort to accomplish what Chief Justice Bartle ordered, PILCOP filed 5, 10, and then 20 Due Process Hearings (21 in all so far) for African American students in an attempt to make right the special education wrongs accomplished by the Lower Merion School District over decades

In all cases either the Hearing Officer determined that the Lower Merion School District did not provide an appropriate education to African American students and ordered appropriate remedies or a settlement agreemet was reached.

Among other revelations, evidence revealed that certain students did not belong in special education simply because they are not disabled.

Within days of DLA Pipers admission as legal representatives to the plaintiffs, the LMSD initiated an attempt to settle the three-year old lawsuit. Retired Federal Judge Bissell joined the case to mediate the settlement. Plaintiffs attended the mediation sessions with experts— professors, authors and researchers—who studied the case and recommended what is known to alleviate the impact of institutional racism in public education. On December 10, 2010, Dr. McGinley, Michael Kelly and district attorneys failed to settle the three-year old lawsuit with plaintiffs.


This case goes to a jury trial in November, 2011.

Elected by Unanimous Vote--Virginia Pollard Joins the Lower Merion School Board

In 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 district and school board membership seated an African American. Mrs. Pollard is not the first African American to become a Lower Merion school board member, although it has been decades since the last. There are plenty of points to be made, but these few make this Board's unanimous vote amazing.

No one thought it would happen, like it did.

The thought was that, at least, the vote would end in a 4 to 4 tie and be decided by the Courts. At best, Mrs. Pollard would win by a 5 to 3 vote. Eight school board members were obligated to interview the final four of 31 candidates in an open forum as top school administrators and a standing-room only crowd attended. Mrs. Pollard made it as one of four in the final round. Each candidate was asked the identical seven questions in sequence. Mrs. Pollard was the third person to be interviewed. All of the candidates were excellent finalists, one would win the seat.

With the impending November 2 elections around the corner, Democrat or Republican politics was not the prevailing issue on the floor. Rather, electing Mrs. Pollard, a clearly qualified candidate, was an opportunity for school board members to begin to heal racial pains and divides sustained over decades that culminated more recently with several unresolved federal lawsuits and many resolved and unresolved, on-going due process hearings brought against the school district by African American families and organizations.

The PEOPLE challenged and changed the outcomes.

If there was any indicator that the Board's vote would not have ended as unanimous, it comes with the body language of a long-standing board member, Gray Friedlander. The usually stoic Mr. Friedlander seemed to have taken on a twitching disorder as he sat listening to the dozens of commentators intent on convincing him and the entire Board to vote for Mrs. Pollard; eyes rolling, legal pad covering his face to converse with Ms. Guthrie, red-faced, selective inattention, teeth-gritting and then calm attention to his seeming favored candidates. This behavior went on for hours into the night, a couple of breaks, and suddenly he sat calmly. Perhaps resigned.

Candidate supporter after supporter commented (overwhelmingly for Mrs. Pollard). Black, white, brown, young, old, Boy Scouts, two former township Commissioners (including Maryam Phillips via a letter), at least two sitting commissioners (Steve Lindner and Cheryl Gelber) sat among the crowd, Republicans, Democrats, and even a woman who dared the Board to make a liar out of her (she had no faith in them electing Mrs. Pollard to the Board). White people told the Board it is time to include Blacks who have been ignored and disenfranchised for years; it was time for them to take the gift this opportunity presented to make the right decision. Blacks and Whites spoke of the Mrs. Pollards extensive community involvement, skills, and history with which they and all of Lower Merion would be complemented. Mrs. Davis, unintended to speak, ask the Board, "if not now, when?"

It was even fun.

Attendees shared plenty of laughter. Reverend Pollard opened public comments with a request to the Board to do as the music soul legend James Brown and "Please, Please, Please" vote for Mrs. Pollard, his wife of many decades. In other light moments, James Brown would be referenced by other commentators and even a board member. Then attendees watched with eagerness when James Brown was called to the podium to make a comment. A white man appeared and identified himself as, "the real James Brown" and the audience roared with laughter. What a moment.

A word about redemption.

Lynn Kugal, who during the racially heated redistricting federal lawsuit brought against the district by African Americans admitted that she did not know that Ardmore was a predominant minority sub-community within Lower Merion leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of many, nominated Mrs. Pollard to become the next school board member. There were no other nominations. Within minutes Gary Friedlander and every other school board member voted to seat Mrs. Virginia Pollard as the Lower Merion School District Board of Director. They made the right decision, as implored to do by Lower Merion residents.

The vote was unanimous, by the end.

The audience jumped to their feet energized by amazement and joy. No one sang we shall overcome, but the sense of triumph and healing was as pervasive as the face-wide smiles of several board members and most of the attendees. At that moment, a point of community pride was manifest.

A WIN-WIN

Truly this was a win-win for Reverend and Mrs. Pollard.
It was a win for Lower Merion students.

It was a win for the Lower Merion community.

It was a win for America. Yes, America.

Mostly, it was a win for the prayer team who stands on Simpson and Spring Avenues in Ardmore every night in any kind of weather praying for change.

White House Hosts Science Fair for the First Time

In 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 presenter's, Mikayla, comment sends a resounding message and directive to all of us to share with our youth, "When you apply for a job nobody will care if you were at the mall or texting or Facebooking, but stuff like this will matter."

A Word on Special Education--IEPs...well, maybe a few words

Let’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 actions stop. If so, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meets to discuss your child’s strengths and needs and they and you create an IEP plan.

Welcome to special education.
Here are a few things to consider IF you agree with the school staff—.
Your child is entitled to a Free Appropriate Public Education—FAPE. FAPE means the special education support services are to be designed to provide——
a) meaningful benefit,
b) significant learning,
c) impact your child’s ability/potential,
d) conform to applicable federal requirements, and
e) is provided at no cost to the parents.

Are your child’s IEP goals measurable and objective?
In order to provide a student with FAPE, an IEP plan must be “reasonably calculated to enable the child to receive educational benefits.” Your child should experience more than trivial benefits.

Vague IEP Statements are NOT Enough
Vague IEP statements might look like this, LC will “write a correct sentence” with 80% accuracy or “will complete the fourth grade curriculum in reading” or “will improve her organizational skills.” Objective criteria against which achievement can be measured should be provided in the IEP language and specific strategies for adequately evaluating a student’s academic progress. How will you know if teaching methods are effective or revised? Bring an advocate or a Special Education Buddy.

Marva Collins

In 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 responsibility to educate students.

Our Hall of American Achievers---Mrs. Collins is one of America's greatest gems. Cum Laude, with praise.

ASK ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING public information sessions

Are 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 and anyone with a questions or concern about general or special education can ask absolutely anything of the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia team and get answers. FREE public information sessions are taking place on Fridays, September 10, 17 and 24 from 2pm until 6pm at 92 Greenfield Avenue in Ardmore, PA 19003. Bring whatever paperwork is pertinent to your question and/or concern, including course rosters, transcripts, school program guides, individualized education plans, gifted individualized education plans, 504 Service Agreement plans, reports cards and the like.

Come to these free sessions. Get help sorting it all out.

President Obama Delivers Commencement Address to Hampton U

Mother'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 still seems to rings true today, "Education is Emancipation."