WHAT:         
A Coalition of Black Women Leaders and Mothers presented questions to  two candidates for California Superintendent for Public Instruction – Assemblyman Tony Thurmond and Marshall Tuck – on the state of Black Student achievement and experience at a forum moderated by Kimberly Ellis. Several hundred people gathered for the forum at Holy Names University, 3500 Mountain Blvd. in Oakland.

 

WHEN:                 

Saturday, September 15, 201811 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

 

WHY:                   

On the most recent test results, Black students perform below any other student population. The achievement gaps evidenced by California’s Common Core-aligned assessment make these disparities more apparent   and create concern and urgency around the need to support Black children. 

 

Dropout rates are far higher for Black students than for other students and graduation rates are lower. In fact, the gap in graduation rates between African American students and their White peers is 20 percent. Overall, 68 percent of California’s Black students graduate from high school in four years. 

 

California’s Black students are twice as likely as White students to be identified for learning disabilities, and more likely to be identified for special education in general. In high school, Black students have less access to college-preparatory classes, such as Advanced Placement (AP) and rigorous math and science courses. Only 31 percent of African American 12th grade graduates take and complete the “A-G” coursework necessary to be eligible to apply to the University of California or California State University. 

 

 

WHERE:   

Holy Names University, 3500 Mountain Blvd., Oakland, CA 94619 

 

WHO:   

Sistallect, Inc., Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA) and California Black Media are convening partners along with Holy Names University as the host.