tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92062145222913448402024-03-19T00:58:49.651-04:00Concerned Black Parents, Inc.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-717714619745046282015-01-17T10:07:00.001-05:002015-01-17T10:18:59.266-05:00Chief Justice McKee offers dissenting opinion in decade old lawsuit
Chief Judge Theodore McKee
Plaintiffs in Blunt et al. vs. Lower Merion School District (LMSD), a civil rights class action lawsuit filed in 2007, recently received an opinion from the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Two of the three judges affirmed U.S. District Court Judge Harve Bartle, III’s summary judgment in favor of LMSD—no trial before a jury—that is, unless Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-25715865009205930472012-07-29T00:52:00.000-04:002012-08-10T17:00:54.408-04:00NEW Executive Order, President Obama launches White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans
On July 26, 2012, the White House released news that President Obama signed an Executive Order launching the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans (the Initiative) to significantly improve educational outcomes for African Americans, thereby providing substantial benefits for the whole country. It intends to ensure equality of access and opportunity to Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-39460436390046706392012-07-02T13:14:00.000-04:002012-07-02T13:14:34.228-04:00Three Stories: African Americans in Due Process HearingsSpecial Education Due Process Hearings
Students identified by a school psychologist as disabled are entitled to a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) according to the Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA). In addition to regular or general education, FAPE typically includes special education support services identified through an Individualized Education Program (IEP) Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-24806855070323814882012-07-02T12:15:00.000-04:002012-07-02T12:16:57.087-04:00Lower Merion captures many Black students on secret laptop surveillance, Williams and Hasan took it to courtMany Black students captured by secret school laptop surveillance, these two did something about it
In 2010, the nation and international community learned that Lower Merion School District high school students were issued laptops with surveillance capabilities and many unsuspecting students had photographs and web camera shots taken of them, friends and family members by District staff; many Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-19373102493163400842012-07-02T11:58:00.000-04:002012-07-02T11:58:09.234-04:00African American students vs. Lower Merion School District in due process hearingsDue Process Hearings/Settlements through the Office of Dispute Resolution often involve extensive litigation, mediation, or settlement under the Individuals with Disability Education Act . These lawsuits are hard fought and won matters, often indicating a deficit in special education services and programming for children. Listed below are mentioned 12 African American students, 3 more on page 7, Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-46928766876419809472012-07-02T11:53:00.003-04:002012-07-02T11:53:54.521-04:00Blunt et al. vs. LMSD UpdateNow in appeal to the Third Circuit Court, seven plaintiffs remain and plead with the federal court to allow a lawsuit to move forward before trial by jury in a five-year old civil rights case against one of Pennsylvania’s wealthiest ($200+ million for 7,300 students), highest academic achieving school districts.
Once upon a time there were nine plaintiffs, two organizations (Concerned Black Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-87561448400897534392012-07-02T11:51:00.000-04:002012-07-02T11:51:41.046-04:00DOEs vs. LMSD Supreme Court refuses to hear the caseNine African American families were less interested in busing their children four miles away because their predominant white community valued diversity at their expense than sending them to their community high school that is within walking distance.
In 2008, the Lower Merion School District welcomed the newly hired Dr. Christopher McGinley with the task of redistricting for the sake of Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-4585662718966465142012-07-02T11:47:00.000-04:002012-07-02T11:47:40.895-04:0010 years and $2 billion into NCLB, PSSA scores drop for all races even as LMSD's nagging achievement gap remains wide openA little known but highly felt by students fact about the Lower Merion School District (LMSD) is that its students are subject to more than 50 standardized, benchmark, or diagnostic tests by the time they graduate; not just the federally mandated PSSA alone. These assessments are to inform instructional practice and curriculum development while driving all students along a pathway to Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9206214522291344840.post-82974403917947647572012-03-10T21:08:00.000-05:002012-03-10T21:08:51.540-05:00What 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...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag: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 Unknownnoreply@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 Unknownnoreply@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 Unknownnoreply@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 Unknownnoreply@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 Unknownnoreply@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 Unknownnoreply@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 responsibilityUnknownnoreply@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 Unknownnoreply@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 stillUnknownnoreply@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, Unknownnoreply@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 Unknownnoreply@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 Unknownnoreply@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, Unknownnoreply@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 preparedUnknownnoreply@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 Unknownnoreply@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 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com