The Coalition of Concerned Citizens for African American Children is still standing behind the school system in the year-round lawsuit.
The group released a press release today on the state Supreme Court hearing. The text reads:
CITIZEN’S GROUP SUPPORTS Wake County Public School Year Round Plan:
Plan promotes academic achievement for all children
The Coalition of Concerned Citizens for African American Children (CCCAAC) announces its continued support for the reassignment plan proposed by the Wake County Public School System. The plan is consistent with the district’s longstanding commitment to a successful educational experience for all children while supporting a diverse population at each school.
The Coalition, many of us educators ourselves, supports the school board’s policy of seeking a balance among schools of students who are eligible for free or reduced priced lunches, students who perform below grade level on End of Grade exams (EOGs), students identified as being Limited English Proficient, students requiring services from Special Education programs, while supporting high academic achievement for all students and maintaining a diverse student population at each WCPSS school.
Wake County enrollment is now the largest in the state of North Carolina. As our school system enrolls thousands of new students each year, and builds new schools to stay current with this growth, reassignment of some students each year is inevitable.
The Coalition is invested in the success of all children and we will always demand excellence for all students. At the same time, we understand that poor and minority students are especially vulnerable when schools fail to offer them the best educational opportunity available. With the current reassignment plan, the school district has demonstrated its ongoing commitment to the wellbeing of all children, the integrity of neighborhoods and the democratic process, and being careful stewards of public dollars
Comments
Yes that is why I am asking
Thu, 12/18/2008 - 06:57 — vsheehanYes that is why I am asking why the last couple of emails made it sound like CCCAAC was representing F&R only.
Sarah Redpath That was
Thu, 12/18/2008 - 06:51 — vsheehanSarah Redpath
That was brave. May the force be with you.
Hey
Thu, 12/18/2008 - 23:43 — SDR256Brave? Come on. We all want what's best for ALL the children, don't we? We CAN do X AND Y, not just X or Y. We're creative folks. We just have to stop listening to those who tell us why its so impossible.
Sarah
hear hear .. good American
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 11:23 — ncdad1hear hear .. good American "can do" spirit.
good points ..
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 14:43 — ncdad1good points ..
Also, I would not surprised
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 14:41 — ncdad1Also, I would not surprised if many F&Rs are not Latinos since high F&Rs % seems to corresponde to low English ability % on the school charts.
vsheehan--Did she send it to
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 10:33 — jenmanvsheehan--Did she send it to the group asking for their opinion or did she just send it to the group in its final form as in "here's our press release"?
I agree that Calla and her husband do some really good work on behalf of school children. It is disturbing though that they don't seem to communicate with the community that they are trying to advocate for.
I've been a member of that group (might still be but just changed my preferences to not receive the email). I joined because I was really hoping to get the perspective of the AA/black community on these issues. In all the time that I received the emails (6 months maybe?), I never saw an announcement for a general meeting for the group. I also never saw any real discussion going on. Just announcements from Calla for the group's programs or somebody posting a study here or there.
Somebody needs to actually SPEAK with the low income minority community to find out what they think. How far is too far for them to travel? What kind of support do they need? What is most important to them in a school? Nobody is asking them anything and it is sad.
Guys I need some
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 14:06 — vsheehanGuys I need some clarification. The Coalition of Concerned Citizens for African American Children advocates for African American students not F&R only. From the last two emails I got the impression you think the group is speaking for all F&R kids? Is that what you meant? The group has no economic barriers. Just asking for clarification?
In my limited dealings with
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 01:24 — KathleenBIn my limited dealings with Calla and Gerald Wright, they have been very positive. I have respect for anyone who is willing to give their time and energy on behalf of children. I did ask Gerald Wright after the appellate hearing what kind of feedback he had received from the f&r community prior to submitting their particular Amicus Brief in light of the fact that they were the largest majority of the opt outs following Judge Manning's ruling and he was supporting taking this right away. His response was that they did not ask and he had not thought about that.
The greatest burden of these assignments rests squarely on the shoulders of many F&R children and families, yet the school system appears to be unwilling to evaluate the results.
Additionally, by attempting to take away a parent's right to have a say in their children's education and only offering the opt outs online it makes it even more difficult for many parents to play a role.
It is interesting to note however that these conversions were presented as a temporary, but necessary measure to deal with growth. Healthy schools were never mentioned to the public as a part of the conversions.
funding
Tue, 12/16/2008 - 22:33 — SideburnsMr. Hui,
Who funds the CCCAAC?
Thanks
Don't know. Would have to
Tue, 12/16/2008 - 22:43 — KeungHui (author)Don't know. Would have to look at their 990 form to see.
On a good not the BOE and
Tue, 12/16/2008 - 19:18 — vsheehanOn a good not the BOE and friends do not think that Cary, Holly Springs and Garner are the only lazy ones. I guess the F&R population are held in the same regard as the suburbs.
The only people the BOE and Fiends do not publicly insult is North raleigh ISB. Hmmmm wonder what thats about.
; )
Facts
Tue, 12/16/2008 - 17:10 — joeciullaFact: A large percentage of students who opt out of MYR schools are F&R.
Fact: WCPSS has no data to show Policy 6200 is driving any improvement in F&R student achievement (and other studies show that achievement is declining).
I cannot fathom the reasoning behind such a press release.
In Calla defence studie have
Tue, 12/16/2008 - 19:15 — vsheehanIn Calla's defence studies have shown that F&R kids ,who usually do not recieve education enrichment, do better in YR. The kids forget less over the three week break and you do not have to reteach . That being said our first year of year round my daughter's class did review as long as they would have if they had had a traditional summer break. That's when I joined the anti MYR band wagon.
You Hit The Nail On The Head
Tue, 12/16/2008 - 23:29 — Lisa_BYES, even after a 3 week break there is still "review".
Why review 4 times a year instead of 1 review after a nice relaxing energizing summer break ???
The parents of those F&R
Tue, 12/16/2008 - 20:33 — joeciullaThe parents of those F&R children made a decision that busing their children to a distant MYR school was not in the best interests of their child or family. Whether that was the "correct" decision, in my mind, is immaterial. They made a parental decision, and neither CCCAAP nor WCPSS should have the right to say they know better, and enforce their opinion.
If WakeCARES loses their case, we all lose.
If they want to come to your
Tue, 12/16/2008 - 22:21 — ncdad1If they want to come to your school you will honor that decision too and welcome them?
Wrong person to ask
Tue, 12/16/2008 - 22:31 — SideburnsThat question should be directed to the Board of Education.
vsheehan--Calla Wright is a
Tue, 12/16/2008 - 15:25 — jenmanvsheehan--Calla Wright is a very staunch supporter of WCPSS and has issued press releases like this one before. She spoke at a rally that was designed to encourage low income minority families NOT to opt out of YR. She said it was the equivalent of segregation or something very similar to that. That basically the YR schools would have no minority or poor kids in them if people opted out. Also, she was quoted in the N&O as saying that by opting out of YR, the low income families were choosing what was most convenient for them, not what was best for their children.
She definitely makes it sound like the Coalition is a broad group with voting members, but like you said, that's not the case.
I like Calla and she can
Tue, 12/16/2008 - 19:13 — vsheehanI like Calla and she can have her opinion about YR and I will still think she is great. Plus she isn’t always behind WCPSS per say CCCAAC is the group reminding people what the laws are and to make sure WCPS sticks to them. One instance is if your child doe not get a 3 on the EOG the school is required to put together a Student Education Plan.; which I plan to do a year from now when push-in services leaves my kid in the dust on math.
That said what she did with the press release if she did do what I think she did is a common Association trick. So K Street!!!
Let’s say the “Citizens for Low Gas prices” puts out a press release. Well from the name you feel it is implied that this is a group of American voters putting their money where their mouth is. If you go check out on line or request “Citizens for Low Gas Prices” taxes papers you can see where they get their funding. If membership cost $10,000 and the members names are Exxon. You know what the group’s real motives are. Some groups do not have memberships put get funding which you can also check and if you see the funders are Mobil you get an idea who is really for off shore drilling. Not common Americans like the group’s name implies but oil companies.
But I do not know if there are paid memberships and voting status .
Reading this press release
Tue, 12/16/2008 - 15:07 — vsheehanReading this press release you may get the idea that CCCAAC was a group were members vote on things. It is not. It is an informational and resource clearinghouse that creates opportunities for parents to learn more about WCPSS and how to best advocate for your child. I am a member. At least I think I am I have gone to a few seminars and receive their daily emails. I also have sent things out on the email list. The group is an excellent resource and I would encourage everyone to get on the membership roles but I am slightly upset to see a press release like this. Especially the part that makes it seem like a group of parents put together the press release.
Mr Hui
Did Calla say who exactly voted for backing the diversity policy? Did she say that she or the board of directors had made this decision or is she purposely saying the whole association is backing the policy? I think some clarification is in order do you not think?
Well I am outing myself
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 06:53 — vsheehanWell I am outing myself somewhat with this post but in fairness it needs to be done
I emailed Calla and she said the press release was run by CCCAAC's email group. The press release was sent out once before and before she sent the press relaese out she emailed it to the group. No one emailied her a negative response so she considers it approved by the group.
I must of mised that email. Sorry for accusing Calla of putting out the email with out running it by the group.
No one complained so it is approved by the email list.
Question remains
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 10:48 — SDR256So, the question still remains whether those who are not plugged into email, possibly like many F&R families who the CCCAAC is intended to represent I assume (?), might have objected but don't even know this is going on. I think this is incredibly arrogant and short sighted. What the school system is offering challenged children is an empty promise. I'm sure that this person Calla believes that she is doing what she sees is in their best interests, but the facts are that we should be doing BETTER for them and not inflicting the havoc and disconnected experience that the busing model imposes. Someone needs to really ask these folks, in a way where their response will be INFORMED. Do they understand that the government will be making decisions for their children over and above their own authority as parents? Seems like that's what Calla did too - but, maybe she knows best. 8-P
Guys I need some
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 14:07 — vsheehanGuys I need some clarification. The Coalition of Concerned Citizens for African American Children advocates for African American students not F&R only. From the last two emails I got the impression you think the group is speaking for all F&R kids? Is that what you meant? The group has no economic barriers. Just asking for clarification?
no offense, since you are a member......
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 14:14 — ObserverNYbut is there a coalition for just white students in Wake County? Somehow I have a feeling that would be called the KKK if it existed.
I also belong to the
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 14:19 — vsheehanI also belong to the Triangles special needs education advocacy group and to the Gifted children’s association in Wake. Does that mean there should be a Regular Ed group and the fact their isn’t is unfair? I also belong to the local Autism society. Am I being a bigot against Neural Typical because I didn’t start or join a group for them.
vsheehan
Wed, 12/17/2008 - 16:42 — ObserverNYWell, usually there is a regular ed PTA, no? I think my point is a SE group, or a PTA, or a group to support Autism isn't racially segregated, is it? Even an F&R group wouldn't be racially segregated, would it? Aren't there poor white people in Wake County?