Rally in Support of the African American Learners Initiative

Saturday 25 May, 1:00-3:00 pm

at Leimart Square Park (Corner of Vernon & Crenshaw)

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has failed to address the educational needs of African American children. The African American community knows that black children are intellectually capable! Yet, our children consistently score at the bottom on all tests. This reality has been talked about and publicized for years. It is our reality and our children's reality.

THE PROBLEM

*We let others create solutions for our children. That is OUR PROBLEM.

*We allow the LAUSD to assign emergency credentialed teachers in high numbers to school that serve black and brown students.

*Credentialed teachers receive no training on "best teaching practices" to reach, and teach our children.

*Even when black students score well enough to be placed in honors and advanced placement courses those placements do not occur. (Tracking continues although it is illegal.)

*If a teacher enters a classroom believing that only a few children can be high achievers, how does this impact our children who are viewed so negatively?

A SOLUTION

In June 2001 school board member Genethia Hudley Hayes introduced a resolution called THE AFRICAN AMERICAN LEARNERS INITIATIVE. The resolution passed by a vote of 6-1 and demands that the LAUSD staff develop a plan of action to address the lack of high quality opportunities to learn for African American students. In order for this action plan to be fully implemented in a meaningful way there is a need for: fiscal resources, professional development, culturally relevant curricular material and teaching strategies, adequate resources for schools, meaningful parent/community involvement and fair distribution of emergency credentialed teachers.

OUR CHILDREN DESERVE AND NEED HELP. COME AND FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE INITIATIVE AND HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Supporting Organizations: New Panther Vanguard, Coalition for Educational Justice, Council of Black Administrators, Community Coalition, Western Regional Council on Educating Black Children. For Info Contact: 323-293-0625