Pittsburgh Community Connecting On Educational Justice

Nov. 10, 2010 - PRLog -- The Hill District Education Council (HDEC)


Contact:  Kenn Thomas                     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tel Num: 412-249-0949                                                      November 10, 2010      
Email: klt.cffei@gmail.com


‘THE PITTSBURGH COMMUNITY CONNECTING ON EDUCATIONAL JUSTICE’


Saturday November 20, 2010 a broad coalition of Pittsburgh educators, social agencies, church leaders, and concerned families will convene at the HDEC Fall 2010 Education Conference to devise an action plan for accelerating the academic performance of the area’s Black student population.  The program is sponsored by the Hill District Education Council (HDEC) in collaboration with the Center for Family Excellence Dame-Dame Outstanding Schools Series.  

The event’s keynote speaker will be Principal Shawn Toler of KIPP Ujima Village Academy Middle School in Baltimore, MD.  With over 98% Black student population, this exceptional school achieved ‘Dame-Dame Gold’ acclaim by maintaining 96% proficiency in math last year.  Principal Toler is the second in a series of Principals being presented as part of the Dame-Dame Outstanding Schools Series.  At the conference he will focus efforts on developing tactics specific to the needs of Pittsburgh area educators and community leaders.

Our nation is undergoing an education crisis described as the major civil rights issue of the 21st century.  It is eroding the country’s global competitiveness, resulting in lost jobs and wasted resources.  The Pittsburgh district school is among the poorest performing in the state, ranked number 475 out of 542 in Pennsylvania according to Schooldigger.com.  On top of this, the condition of our area’s Black student population is dramatically worst.  Only 1 of 4 Black Pittsburgh public high school students test proficient in math.  This is less than half the rate of the area’s white students…and the problem is not getting better. Where’s the justice in a system that fails to prepare our children to survive in today’s economy?

The HDEC Fall 2010 Education Conference will be held at Weil Accelerated Learning Academy 2250 Centre Ave. Pittsburgh, PA. The program will begin at 8:30 Am with a continental breakfast followed by the professional’s workshop session which will address school policies and procedures. Act 48 Credits are available to these participants.  Around 10:00 Am the family and community workshop session will begin which will address topics such as effective homework stations, education advocacy, etc.  There will be a light brunch at noon during which time ‘Caught Being Good’ & honor roll students will be recognized and awarded prizes. Children activities and entertainment are also scheduled. The event is free and open to the public.


If you’d like more information about the conference, please contact Kenn Thomas at
Tel Num: 412-246-0949, or Email: klt.cffei@gmail.com.  Thank You.

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Family services agency specializing in implementing social work interventions for behavior, physical, academic, economic, and spiritual health.