|
GBF - Victories of the Education Committee |
 |
 |
 |
|
Our Education Committee continues to be a rich source of information for our partners, including academic institutions, our nearby schools, and our own groups as we leverage information and resources with one another and work together towards a common goal of improving schools. Participated in the Bronzeville Community Summit on June 30, 2007 to provide a hands-on interactive workshop on using the 7 Critical Elements for implementing positive solutions and goals at individual schools. Tools were provided that enables community members to be involved in school planning on the outside, or more preferably from within. Two of our education members facilitated this event. Held a Principal & Parent Breakfast at IIT in January to bring schools up to date on our efforts and to emphasize the importance of having a rich network of resources of which to leverage from. More than 70 people were in attendance at this event, including two parents and two principals that spoke in support of GBF’s education and parent efforts. Participated in a two-day strategic planning session to revisit our education committee’s goals, objectives, activities, and benchmarks to guide us through the next 15 months. One particular emphasis was placed on promoting 7 Critical Elements of a High Quality School and using this as a planning tool and guide in assessing how we can better assist our schools. We also developed a partnership school-community survey that we will disseminate in the summer and fall to community groups working with and in schools. We continue to participate with the Madden-Wells Working Group to identify and fill gaps that will further assist families through the transition from Wells to Oakwood Shores. At GBF’s facilitation, Loyola’s School of Social Work is now providing three clinical social workers at Doolittle School to help them with student anger management, counseling, and behavioral management. Loyola is also offering professional development to teachers through a model called WOWW (Working on What Works). Partnered with Loyola School of Social Work students to host an informational summit on applying to high school, the importance of beginning the exploration process early, and answering questions about how students and parents can prepare. Partnered with the Positive Youth Development Initiative on overlapping activities, including the youth undergoing a train-the-trainer restorative justice training session and then piloting this technique at Price School. Received a grant from the Twenty-First Century Foundation in New York City to increase graduation and college attendance rates of African American youth. Dyett Academy Center and its feeder school, Price Intermediate/Upper School will be working as partners with us to develop strategies to address this concern and goal. Submitted a legislative proposal to Senator Mattie Hunter in the Winter of 2006 to serve as an impetus for providing localized funding towards Drop-Out Prevention & Recovery efforts. During this current legislative session, GBF intends to encourage this proposal again. This has been a long-term concern of our education committee given the low graduation rates and its correlations to higher drop out rates, incarceration rates, and joblessness rates. GBF will continue to encourage our elected officials to fund programs that prevent youth from dropping out and/or towards re-enrolling youth. CPS staff regularly receive feedback from education committee members on important CPS initiatives such as school closing policy, high school reform, social and personal development, etc. They provide presentations on school initiatives and local school policies.
|
Programs 
