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Sunday, April 18, 2010

February 25th, 2010 Parent Meeting in Kansas City, MO

An update of the Legislative Day at the Capital in Jefferson City on February 11th was discussed. The Open Enrollment Senate Bill 603 was presented and how it will empower parents to choose a school for their children without the restriction of boundaries.

Parents were introduced to how the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is designed and suppose to work for students with special needs. A presentation about Autism, resources and success in working with families of autistic students was facilitated by ___________.

Testimonials from a high school student who experienced an unfair evaluation and lack of IEP follow up were shared. His family described the actions which led to his decision to leave school prior graduation and the disappointment the family experienced with the school administration.

Next Meeting scheduled for Thursday-March 25th at 4p. Location is Imagine Academy at 414 Wallace in KCMO.

Symposium 2010 BAEO

Symposium 2010 BAEO
Black Alliance for Educational Options
10th Anniversary

Held on March 4-6 in Milwaukee, WI at the Hilton City Center provided participants and supporters an extensive understanding of this year’s theme “A Decade of Progress…The Struggle Continues” which examined a decade of achievements. Symposium 2010 inspired and encouraged participants to continue the struggle to protect, expand and enact new parental choice policies in our chapter and states.

During these challenging times for the BAEO movement, the relentless opposition allowing low income and working class families to have the power to choose quality educational options for their children is high priority.

Battle Against the Status Quo continues…

BAEO members and guests from Kansas City and St. Louis met in February with Legislators and testify in support of the Open Enrollment Senate Bill 603. Parents choose what school you you’re your child to attend. Regardless the kind of school, Missouri Education reform is necessary because appropriate education is a civil right. Uneducated African American children usually have 3 choices: LIFE of POVERTY, PENITENTIARY or DEATH.

Number one reason parents choose charter schools is safety, parents need to be visible, raise the expectation and think outside the box along with school Administrators.

Not having caps on Charter Schools expansion per “RACE to the TOP” was not included in the Missouri funding proposal, thus making the legislation DOA (Dead on Arrival)

The battle continues…

MARCH 25th, Parent Meeting in KCMO Presented…

Parents, teachers and other attendees discussed the Individual Disability Act (IDA) and it’s Federal Funding for special needs children. Discussions including the Individual Educational Plan (IEP) for students needs an incentive for enrollment. The ability for autistic children to have ability to transfer based on desire, have specific learning goals for a projected time period rely on parents being the best advocates. The Individualized Social Family Plan (ISFP) is another attempted to disable vs. able is suppose to work.

“Children in absence of choice feel trapped,” a Bertha Gilkey-Bond quote. The KC group continues it’s efforts to educate and motivate parents to get involved in advocacy the their children and others. The teachers at the Wallace Academy is on board with the meeting and efforts to get parents to the monthly meetings.

Kansas City’s School Board April 6th Election Expects to

The KC Imagine Schools understand the need parents have for safe and quality schools for educating children. The announcement to close over 30 KC Public Schools the process for all principals to apply for school year 2010-11 positions should create more of a demand for schools to do a good job educating children. Certainly there will be more personnel to select from since no contract will automatically be offered.

This process creates competition and should weed out the “best” for staffing for all school positions. KC Schools are expressing interest in BAEO, Charter and non-traditional school opportunities,

Enrollment for this Fall should be interesting. Another example; WHY SYSTEMS of CHOICE are SO IMPORTANT??!!!