Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color  

POLICY MATTERS!

March 2013

 


Dear Friend,

Policy Matters is pleased to share with you a summary of some relevant education policy happenings and publications for January, February, and March.

 

Do you want to receive timely alerts of current education policy news? COSEBOC members have access to our exclusive members-only site and they receive alerts and detailed information each time our staff posts about public policy issues in education.

 

Sign up today!

 

Champions for Change for Educational Excellence for African Americans 

 

In honor of Black History Month, the White House held a Champions of Change event honoring 10 leaders who are working to ensure that African American students in their community receive an education that prepares them for high school graduation, college completion, and productive careers.  Champions of Change are ordinary citizens who are doing extraordinary things.
 
Last fall, President Obama signed an executive order establishing the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans. David J. Johns, former senior education policy advisor to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and a speaker at the 2012 Gathering of Leaders, was named the executive director of the initiative.
 

State School Chiefs Need to Act to Reduce Gender-Based Violence in Schools

 

In March, the U.S. Department of Education issued a Dear Colleague letter to state school chiefs requesting immediate action to reduce gender-based violence in schools and to help ensure all students are safe. In addition, the department released a "What Schools Can Do" toolkit and a new training module, "Get Smart, Get Help, Get Safe," to help school nurses, school counselors and school psychologists identify and respond appropriately to signs of abuse. 
 
Overcoming Poverty for Educational Success

 

In February, The Everyone Graduates Center of Johns Hopkins University released a new white paper, "Overcoming the Poverty Challenge to Enable College and Career Readiness for All - The Crucial Role of School Supports." This paper makes the case for increased resources to schools serving high concentrations of low-income students to provide enhanced supportive services. Read more

 

Are Boys of Color a Part of the Grad Nation?

 

In February, the Building a Grad Nation 2013 Annual Update was released. It shows that students of color and low-income students have made great strides in graduation rates, but that these results are uneven across various subgroups and certain regions of the nation. Read more

 

President Obama's Commitment to Early Childhood

 

In February, the White House released details of the President's plan to improve early childhood education. The plan includes three priorities: providing high quality preschool for every child, growing the supply of effective early learning opportunities for young children, and extending and expanding evidence-based, voluntary home visiting. Read more

 

A National Strategy for Equity Commission

 

In February, the Equity and Excellence Commission publicly released its report, "For Each and Every Child: A Strategy for Education Equity and Excellence."The Commission has worked together for two years to identify key barriers and solutions that can be implemented by the federal government, states, LEAs, and community based organizations. Read more

 

Quality Counts 2013

 

In January, Education Week released its annual Quality Counts publication. This year's report, Quality Counts 2013: Code of Conduct-Safety, Discipline, and School Climate, considers the impact that a school's social and disciplinary climate have on students' ability to learn. Read more

About COSEBOC
The mission of COSEBOC is to connect, inspire, support and strengthen school leaders dedicated to the social, emotional and academic development of boys and young men of color. COSEBOC is a collaborative network of schools that nurture success in boys of color.  Working with these schools, COSEBOC is committed to high standards, exemplary instruction, and the building of coalitions within and outside the community.  The intended long-term outcome of this coalition will be boys of color who are fully equipped to achieve academically, socially and emotionally.  These schools will  serve as models for the educational community, enabling educators to replicate the promising practices modeled in these schools. For more information, visit www.coseboc.org 

7th ANNUAL GATHERING OF LEADERS!

 

Young, Gifted and Literate: Boys and Young Men of Color Prepared for the Future

 

April 25 - 27, 2013  

Chicago, IL

 

REGISTER NOW!

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Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color