As Our 10-Year-Old Cheers the End of State Tests, We Wish They Would Go Away

http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/04/as-our-10-year-old-cheers-the-end-of-state-tests-we-wish-they-would-go-away/

By NICK CHILES

When our 10-year-old tumbled off the schoolbus today, the relief on her face tucked all up in that broad smile, it signaled the end of the five-day torture chamber that is our state’s annual standardized test.

Her feet hadn’t even touched the ground good before she and her friends were plotting a big, post-test celebration—maybe at somebody’s home, maybe in the park. But on one thing they were clear: fun would be had by all. Lots of fun. After all, the test was over and all that stretched before them, schoolwise, was three or so weeks of …well, actually it’s not really clear what their teachers will be doing over the next three weeks since the test is done.

The Georgia version of the state test is extremely high stakes: passage is required for promotion. And the stress is ridiculously high for everyone involved—students, parents, teachers, administrators. Like so many things in the world of education, what started with the best of intentions—pulling everyone up to the same high standard—has been distorted and exploited to such an extreme that the tests now represent all the things wrong with public education and very little that’s right. The high stakes were quite clear here in Atlanta, where administrators and teachers (and perhaps even the school superintendent) were driven by fear and paranoia to engage in what has been described as the largest test cheating scandal in U.S. history, getting together to do wholesale erasures of student tests, resulting last month in the indictments of 35 educators, including Superintendent Beverly Hall.

Ash Cash Uses Financial Literacy to Empower Communities

1.      What led you down the path of educating people with financial education and advising them of how to make their money work for them?

I’ve been in banking and finance for the past 14 years, and when I look at the different clients that I’ve helped to manage their finances, I realize that the difference between the Rich and the Poor is merely knowledge! The Rich understand how money works, and they know that you cannot solely rely on your physical labor in order to build wealth. Growing up in a low-income environment, I understand why many of us who are poor or are living paycheck to paycheck never get out of our situations. We have the wrong idea about wealth building and don’t prioritize, so my goal is to equip as many people as possible with the knowledge needed to begin to build generational wealth.

2.      You’ve written 2 books, ‘Mind Right, Money Right: 10 Laws of Financial Freedom’ and ‘Taylor’s Way: Life Lessons Through The Eyes of a Three-Year Old.’ What inspired you to write the books and what was the process like when you wrote both books, as far as how you structured it?

2013 Princeton Minority Youth Leadership Program – Accepting Applications

2013 AT THE WELL PRINCETON MINORITY YOUTH LEADERSHIP ACADEMY FOCUSES ON ACHIEVEMENT; APPLICATIONS NOW ACCEPTED

New York, NY(BlackNews.com) — For the third straight year, the At the Well Young Women’s Leadership Academy (ATW) will be held at Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey. ATW is one of the only Ivy League summer institutes for minority teen girls in the country. The Academy is geared towards improving SAT test scores and leadership skills for minority girls in underserved communities entering the tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grades of high school. The 2013 program will be held on July 28-August 9, 2013 at The Friend Center. Each year, the Academy offer dynamic speakers, SAT preparatory courses, intense math and essay writing classes, tutoring, interactive studies, group activities, and field trips all on the beautiful campus of Princeton University.

The 5Ws: Martha Diaz

Who: Martha Diaz

What: NYU Hip-Hop Education Center

Why: The mission of the HHEC is to cultivate and support Hip-Hop scholars, teaching artists, cultural workers and activists, and social entrepreneurs to professionalize the field of Hip-Hop Education and inform the larger education sector. It achieves this through research and evaluation of programs, development of standards and best practices, documentation and archiving, community outreach and programming, leadership and teacher training, teacher placement, policy and advocacy development, and social enterprising.

Where: Based in New York, Operates Globally

When: Established June 1, 2010

Magic Johnson Scholarships – Deadline February 2

MAGIC JOHNSON GIVING AWAY 30 SCHOLARSHIPS TO MINORITY STUDENTS

– The deadline to apply is February 2, 2013. –

Nationwide(BlackNews.com) — In 1998, Magic Johnson, through his Magic Johnson Foundation, created the Taylor Michaels Scholarship Program, named after Taylor Michaels, one of his former employees who passed away during that year. Throughout her life, Taylor was known for displaying an intense passion and commitment to youth development, and so for the last 14 years, he has carried her passion forward via the scholarship program.

Florida State Board of Education Passes Plan for Racially-Based Academic Goals

http://rawdawgb.blogspot.com/2012/11/florida-state-board-of-education-passes.html

By Torrence Stephens

Given all of the attention that has been directed toward the educational and academic performance of African American students, including the recent Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal and the recently released report from the Schott Foundation for Public Education  that found that only 52 percent of Black male ninth-graders graduate from high school four years later compared to 78 percent of White, non-Latino male ninth-graders, it is not expected that school districts around the nation try to address this problem. The question is really how one attempt to address this issue does.

The Florida State Board of Education recently passed a plan that sets goals for students in math and reading; however it is based upon their race. The revised strategic plan passed by the board states that says that by 2018, it wants 90 percent of Asian students, 88 percent of white students, and 74percent of black students to be reading at or above grade level. For math, the goals are 92 percent of Asian kids to be proficient, whites at 86 percent, and blacks at 74 percent.

Anheuser-Busch Donates Black Art Collection To UNCF

ANHEUSER-BUSCH DONATES ‘GREAT KINGS AND QUEENS OF AFRICA’ ART COLLECTION TO UNCF TO EDUCATE AND INSPIRE GENERATIONS TO COME

– Brewer awards scholarships to 30 student leaders as part of donation and leadership symposium –

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed speaks during the Legends of the Crown: Lessons in Leadership from Anheuser-Busch and the Great Kings and Queens of Africa symposium during which 30 college students were awarded scholarships and worked side-by-side with executives and school leaders.

3 Reasons College Grads Are STILL Bad With Money

 

http://www.patricewashington.com/PCW/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=56:3-reasons-college-grads-are-still-bad-with-money&Itemid=534

By Patrice Washington

I’m increasingly alarmed at the notion that having a college degree somehow makes a person intellectually superior in the area of personal finance.  Last I checked, personal finance has yet to be made a mandatory course on every high school and college campuse in this country even though it is the one subject you actually do need in the real world no matter what path you ultimately select.

So, why is it that when I write a blog post about poor spending behaviors, the first person to disagree always justifies their opinion with “I’m a college graduate . . . “  as if that means anything to me.  Guess what? I’m a college graduate, as well and I left one of the best institutions on the West Coast with thousands of dollars of debt not including student loans.  I had grants, scholarships, parental support and a full time job all four years.  I was a Dean’s List student that unfortunately just sucked with money.  I wasn’t out buying designer bags and taking Spring Break excursions either. It was truly the little things that added up and I actually fell for the “Life Takes Visa” slogan!

 

2013 Bill Gates Scholarship For Minority Students

2013 BILL GATES SCHOLARS PROGRAM GIVING AWAY ONE THOUSAND SCHOLARSHIPS TO MINORITY STUDENTS

– Applications Now Available For 2013 Scholarships –

Nationwide(BlackNews.com) — Every year, the Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) Program selects 1,000 talented students to receive a good-through-graduation scholarship to use at any college or university of their choice. The program provides scholars with personal and professional development through our leadership programs along with academic support throughout their college career.

Louisiana School Forces Pregnancy Tests On Girls; Kicks Them Out If They Refuse

http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/08/louisiana-school-forces-pregnancy-tests-on-girls-kicks-them-out-if-they-refuse/

by Denene Millner

A publicly-funded, Delhi, Louisiana, school is taking teen pregnancy prevention—and discrimination against young women—to a whole new level with a policy mandating pregnancy tests for female students administrators suspect may be pregnant—a rule the American Civil Liberties Union says violates all kinds of federal laws aimed at protecting women from discrimination.

The Delhi Charter School’s policy states that the school “reserves the right to require any female student to take a pregnancy test to confirm whether or not the suspected student is in fact pregnant.” In cases where a test determines that a female student is pregnant, “the student will not be permitted to attend classes on the campus of Delhi Charter School,” the policy adds. Students who refuse to submit to a pregnancy test “shall be treated as a pregnant student and will be offered home study opportunities. If home study opportunities are not acceptable, the student will be counseled to seek other educational opportunities.”

What in the Scarlet Letter hell?

Black Educator Launches Animated Ebook Series; Teaches Kids Math, Science, and More

BLACK EDUCATOR RELEASES NEW ANIMATED EBOOK SERIES TO TEACH CHILDREN ABOUT SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH (STEM)

Dr. Stephen Jones, project chairman of the Smart Bunch series and the bookcover

Springfield, PA (BlackNews.com) — The Smart Bunch is an animated eBook series that teaches and entertains children regarding Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM). The series will help young children to develop reading, math, science and vocabulary skills. The first eBook was released on June 29, 2012. The owners are Dr. Stephen Jones, CEO, SAJ Publishing Company and Steve Williamson, Cgimate, a computer animation company.

The National Science Foundation reports that the US is currently ranked 17th in the world in the sciences and 25th in math. According to the National Action Council on Minorities Data Book, there has been very little growth in the number of high school students who are interested in STEM professions. African Americans only represent 8 percent of the engineers that the United States produces every year. There are only a total of 31.2 percent of African American students who enter college as an engineering major and graduate with a degree.

ENTERTAINERS 4 EDUCATION ALLIANCE UNVEILS I WILL GRADUATE POSTER CAMPAIGN Featuring GRAMMY AWARD WINNING DUO MARY MARY

Entertainers 4 Education Alliance unveiled the I WILL GRADUATE ‘Overcoming is Winning’ poster featuring three-time Grammy Award winning duo and stars of the self-named WE TV series, MARY MARY. The ceremony was held on, May 8th 2012 on the steps of New York’s City Hall.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said, “We launched the Interagency Task Force on Truancy, Chronic Absenteeism and School Engagement to make sure our children attend and ultimately graduate from school. The supportive message of the Entertainers for Education Alliance poster campaign “Overcoming is Winning” reinforces this lesson and will help encourage our students to pursue the education they need.”

Black Boys in Detroit School Stage Walk Out to Protest Their Bad Education

http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/04/black-boys-in-detroit-school-stage-walk-out-to-protest-their-bad-education/

By NICK CHILES

Something remarkable happened in Detroit this past week: dozens of students at the all-male Frederick Douglass Academy walked out of school together to protest the depressingly bad education that they have been receiving at this public school. The students claim that teachers are consistently absent, the school leadership is in disarray, they don’t have enough textbooks and so many of them have been left unattended by teachers calling in sick that dozens of students regularly gather together in the cafeteria and other common areas because they have nothing else to do.

The protest is taking place in a city that is viewed as one of the worst urban school districts in the nation. On the first day of school this year in Detroit, the attendance rate was 55 percent!

Black and Illiterate: We Can’t Read, But We sure Can Watch TV

http://rawdawgb.blogspot.com/2012/03/black-and-illiterate-i-cant-read-but-i.html

By Torrance Stephens

Hypothetically, let us assume there is a young man who has just finished school, and he is attempting to decide where he will move on to for his personal professional development. In this process, he meets with several interesting entities, of which many offer him incentives to select their organization, for they see great talent and how he could add to their bottom line in being profitable. In some cases he is wined and dined and set up in expensive hotels with access to host who are female. In others he is given envelopes with money and in one case a backpack or briefcase filled with stacks of money. My question is what is this persons occupation and is it illegal?

A while back I wrote a piece describing the manner in which many African Americans do not take full advantage of social media. In addition I am frequently speaking out to bring attention to the fact that reading is slowly falling off among members in our community. Each time, I obtained vehement ridicule and slander for my assertions, especially when I assert that African Americans watch more television than they read; or that they use cell phones more than any other ethnic/racial population in the United States.

A Black Mom’s Lament: How Can We Parents Stop Schools From Failing Our Kids?

http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/02/a-black-moms-lament-how-can-we-parents-stop-schools-from-failing-our-kids/

By Kia Morgan Smith

Sometimes I just want to throw my hands up and ask why and walk out of my kids’ school with them in tow.

The work is not challenging, some of the teachers are uncaring and my kids are learning nothing more than how to answer test questions. I want them to be able to analyze, think deeply and be encouraged to be inquisitive. Shut up and sit down, should not be the vocabulary of the day. And insensitive test questions that reference counting how many slaves would get beat shows there’s a lack of cultural empathy and understanding.

But I’ve come to realize the sad reality that if you don’t have the dough to put your kids in a high-priced private school, then you probably have to settle for a half-baked public school education with a watered-down curriculum. See, the problem is that your child might get a good first-grade teacher, but then their burned-out second grade teacher with all of her mandates on test-taking and meeting AYP, will probably suck. Then the third grade teacher might be an OK educator fresh out the box, having recently graduated and all happy-go-lucky, but by the time Thanksgiving rolls around she’s done had it up to here being a teacher, counselor, referee and commander, and is calling out every other day—and the substitute who takes her place doesn’t really give a good hoot.

Ford Sponsors GRAMMY in the Schools Live Concert featuring Anthony Hamilton

FORD MOTOR COMPANY FUND SPONSORS THIRD ANNUAL GRAMMY IN THE SCHOOLS® LIVE! CONCERT FEATURING GRAMMY WINNER ANTHONY HAMILTON AND YOUTH ARTISTS
o     Ford’s Grants Drive Expanded Educational Programs in Anchorage, Portland, and Billings

LOS ANGELES, CA. January 30, 2012 – As part of its long term commitment to supporting innovative educational programs across the country, Ford Motor Company Fund has awarded grants to the GRAMMY Foundation® that will support an expansion of its GRAMMY In The Schools® programs into the target cities of Anchorage, AL, Portland, OR and Billings, MT.

Ford sponsorship includes the Third annual GRAMMY In The Schools® Live! – A Celebration Of Music & Education.  Members of the GRAMMY Camp – Jazz Session, along with student alumni from GRAMMY Camp® and GRAMMY Signature Schools, with a special guest performance by GRAMMY® winning artist Anthony Hamilton and drummer Terri Lyne Carrington on Feb. 8, 2012, at University of Southern California, Grand Ballroom in Los Angeles, CA.

Book, “Who Says You Can’t Go To College?”

BE INSPIRED TO GET YOUR DEGREE WITH “WHO SAYS YOU CAN’T GO TO COLLEGE?” – THE PREMIERE RESOURCE FOR STUDENTS PURSUING A COLLEGE EDUCATION

– For the first time ever, education coach Tanya Knight shares her proven, time-tested strategies for educational success in an in-depth book that guides students, parents, adult learners and professionals through the higher education process. –

Orlando, FL(BlackNews.com) — Intended to inspire students of all ages to fulfill their educational goals, Who Says You Can’t Go To College? is the #1 tool to guide parents, professionals, struggling high-school students and adult learners through the entire collegiate experience – from applications to graduation. Written by education-extraordinaire Tanya Knight – a woman nationally-recognized as “America’s Education Coach” – this 160-page book, available in print or as an e-book, is guaranteed to get you into the school of your dreams.

In today’s struggling economy, many students don’t know how they’re going to pay for college. Even worse, more than 60% of students graduate from high school unprepared for the college experience, and seek remedial classes upon matriculation. Learn how to handle these education issues and more with Knight’s premiere educational resource – Who Says You Can’t Go To College? – created to give students, parents and adult learners interested in pursuing a college degree the preparation necessary to achieve their educational goals.

DAMIAN MARLEY Headlines Caribbean Education Foundation Benefit Concert

DAMIAN MARLEY Partners with Caribbean Education Foundation to Headline “STAND UP – Educate the Youths” BENEFIT CONCERT to Help Children in Jamaica Attend School

Stage Play Exposes Hidden Traps of Student Loans

“COLLEGE FEVER!” STAGE PLAY EXPOSES HIDDEN TRAPS BEHIND STUDENT LOANS

[Click To Enlarge]

Camp Springs, MD(BlackNews.com) — “College Fever! – What’s The Real Price of College?” debuts Sept 10th & 11th 2011 with free performances daily at 3:00pm and 7:30pm. In his latest live stage-play, writer/director Jay Cameron explores the pivotal moment of decision about how to pay for college from the perspective of graduating high school seniors.

When someone hears the title “College Fever!”, it grabs their attention. Fraternity and sorority life may come to mind. Others might think of the wild campus lifestyle. And though these are aspects of this unprecedented stage-play’s script, there is much more to College Fever.

Bill Gates Scholarships For Minority Students

BILL GATES ANNOUNCES 2012 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR LOW-INCOME MINORITY STUDENTS

– Gates’ non-profit organization is giving away 1,000 scholarships for the 2011-2012 school season –

Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft

Nationwide(BlackNews.com) — The Gates Millennium Scholarship Program (GMS) will select 1,000 talented students next year to receive a good-through-graduation scholarship to use at any college or university of their choice. Scholars will also be provided with personal and professional development through their leadership programs, along with academic support throughout their college career.