* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Conaway
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
In Celebration of NEA's American Education Week
FOR the purpose of celebrating the National Education Association's American Education Week, congratulating the students, parents, teachers, CEO, Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners, and employees of the Baltimore City Public Schools on the impressive progress made in academic achievement and personal deportment, and encouraging all to join the Baltimore City Public Schools in the American Education Week celebration and learning.
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Recitals
The National Education Association's American Education Week "spotlights the importance of providing every child in America with a quality public education from kindergarten through college, and the need for everyone to do his or her part in making public schools great." The Association's annual tagline, Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Our Responsibility, reflects the "calling upon America to provide students with quality public schools so that they can grow, prosper, and achieve in the 21st century."
In 2010, the 89th annual American Education Week will take place November 14-20, and each day of the week will spotlight a different aspect of school life: Monday is Kick-off Day for all Americans to celebrate public education; Tuesday is Parent's Day to visit classrooms; Wednesday is Education Support Professionals Day; Thursday invites community leaders to become Educator for a Day; and Friday honors Substitute Educators.
This year it is particularly befitting that Baltimore City celebrate American Education Week in that the progress of Baltimore City Public Schools has been recognized by the National School Boards Association in naming our public schools the 2010 winner of the Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE) Annual Award for Urban School Board Excellence. The national award, presented October 2, at the CUBE Annual Conference in Baltimore, recognizes urban school districts that both demonstrate progress in student achievement and act as role models for excellence in school board governance.
In announcing the award, the National School Boards Association Executive Director said: "Baltimore City Public Schools is a shining example that school reform can work in large, diverse urban school systems. Many critics said the district's problems were permanent and unfixable. But school board members and educators in Baltimore refused to accept that grim prognosis and thanks to their vision and hard work, Baltimore City Public Schools are now thriving."
The October 6, 2010 press release from BCPS reflects the appropriateness of these accolades. The latest high school results, which are considered the ultimate measure of how well a district is doing overall, underscore the success of a transformation underway since 2007. Baltimore City Public Schools: State of our High Schools 2009 - 10, shows that more students are staying in school, completing high school. "For the third straight year in 2009-10, Baltimore City Public Schools posted its best-ever dropout and graduation rates, driven largely by the district's ability to reduce dropouts by more than half in the last three years."
The City Schools' 2009 dropout rate is 4.1%, a three-year decline of 56%, and the City Schools' graduation rate is 66% , up from 62.7% in 2008-09 and 60.1% in 2006-07, a three-year increase of 10%. To celebrate these and all accomplishments of our achieving students throughout the Baltimore City Public Schools PreK through 12, everyone is invited to join the Baltimore City Public Schools in the celebration of American Education Week:
Join City Schools for American Education Week
November 13-20
American Education Week is an annual national event that highlights the importance for every child to receive a quality public education from kindergarten through college. This year's theme is "Great Public Schools: Our Right and Our Responsibility." This is a great opportunity for communities to see many of the great things happening in our schools every day.
Here's a snapshot of the upcoming activities.
Preparing for College, It's Never too Early to Start
Thursday, Nov. 11, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Waverly Elementary/Middle School: 1400 Ellerslie Ave. 21218. Review the importance of a student's grade point average, class rank and course sequence when applying for college and scholarships.
Choose Your School, Baltimore City Public Schools' 2010-11 Middle
and High School Choice Fair
Saturday, Nov. 13, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Poly-Western Complex: 1400 W. Coldspring Lane, 21209. Explore City Schools' many new and exciting middle and high school options.
Make the Choice to be College Ready
Saturday, Nov. 13, 10-11 a.m. and 12:30-1:30 p.m. at the Poly-Western Complex: 1400 W. Coldsrping Lane, 21209. Get advice from City Schools' counselors about the right classes for students to choose in middle school and high school to prepare for college.
Community Conversation with City Schools' Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Alonso
Thursday, Nov. 18, 6-8 p.m. at St. Veronica Roman Catholic Church, 806 Cherry Hill Road, Baltimore, MD 21225. Join City Schools CEO Dr. Andres Alonso for a conversation about the importance of American Education Week and the role of City Schools in this celebration.
Community Conversation with City Schools Chief Academic Officer,
Dr. Brookins-Santelises
Tuesday, Nov. 16, 6-8 p.m. at the Creative Alliance: 3434 Eastern Ave. Join City Schools Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Sonja Brookins-Santelises as she shares information about the new Common Core Standards and what they mean for City Schools.
College Savings Plans of Maryland: Start Early. Save Smart
Tuesday, Nov. 16, 4-6 p.m. at Mary Ann Winterling Elementary School: 220 N. Bentalou St. 21223. Learn about the College Savings Plan of Maryland and learn ways to save for college.
Super Saturday: Parent PTA Leadership Academy #1
Saturday, Nov. 20 , 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the University of Baltimore, Thumel Business Center: 11 W. Mt. Royal Ave. for an exciting day of leadership training with the National PTA to strengthen parent engagement in schools across the city.
Check back on this page on Thursday, Nov. 11 for a calendar of all school open houses and events happening at our great schools throughout the City.
Use American Education Week to sign up now to Volunteer or Partner with City Schools.
We hope to see you there!
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That this Body hereby celebrates the National Education Association's American Education Week, congratulates the students, parents, teachers, CEO, Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners, and employees of the Baltimore City Public Schools on the impressive progress made in academic achievement and personal deportment, and encourages all to join the Baltimore City Public Schools in the American Education Week celebration and learning.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the CEO, Baltimore City Public Schools, the Chair and Members of the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners, the President of the Baltimore Teachers Union, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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