1. Partnering with African American Families to Close the Achievement Gap
Micki Poole Clowney, Director, Office of Trio Programs, Moreno Valley College
Patty Rucker, Coordinator of Student Services, Moreno Valley USD
Lisa C. Broomfield, Director of Categorical Programs & GATE, Moreno Valley USD

2. Presenters…our stories
Patty Rucker

3. Session Overview
This session is designed for parent, teacher, or administrative stakeholders who are starting or looking for strategies to increase African-American Parent Engagement at their respective school sites or districts. This session will share data, resources, and best practices of why and how AAPACs can be effective in strengthening parent advocacy, involvement and communication in being a critical component to fostering student efficacy and success.
Audrey

4. District Mission
Moreno Valley Unified School District's mission is to ensure all students graduate high school prepared to successfully enter into higher education and/or pursue a viable career path.

5. Why Are We Here?

6. African-American Student Achievement…….
Let’s talk about…
African-American Student Achievement…….

7. African American Students
Celebrations
Moreno Valley
African American Students
District
Enrollment
15.0%
Attendance Rate
93.3%
94.7%
AVID Enrollment
11.0%
Free and reduced lunch status
81.0%
Graduation Rate
84.0%
86.2%

8. Opportunity and achievement gaps
Moreno Valley
African American Students
District
Suspension Rate
17.62%
8.58%
Expulsion Rate
.239%
.104%
Truancy Rate
51.3%
42.82%
AP Course Enrollment
16.3%
25%
Percent completing UC/CSU Required Courses
22.5%
32.3%
Students with disabilities
21%
12%
Foster Youth
23% 2%

9. Our Report Card

10. Graduation Rate Comparison

11. Drop-out Rates Comparison

12. It Takes a Village
Jackie

13. District African – American Advisory Council (AAAC)
Brings key stakeholders together (Administrators, Educators, Community, Families, Students)
Collaborative programming (Family Conference, College Fair, Targeted African-American Student Success Initiatives)
Culturally relevant information
Exchanging ideas and strategic planning
Professional Development
Reviewing Data
Will provide a history of how it got started. First meeting in December 2012 at Moreno Valley College.
Recognized there were pockets of things going on in community to address targeted student achievement for African-American students. Recognized need to bring stakeholders together to have collective conversation.

14. How we got started …
A message from Dr. Judy D. White, Superintendent of Moreno Valley Unified School District

15. African – American Advisory Council (AAAC)
The purpose of the AAAC is to involve and engage parents, families, students, educators, and community members in the decision making process at the local, district and regional level to improve the quality of education for African-American students by raising the level of awareness in our community about cultural learning differences and promoting an understanding among parents, educators, and others about culturally sensitive issues relating to the education of African-American students.
Will provide a history of how it got started. First meeting in December 2012 at Moreno Valley College.
Recognized there were pockets of things going on in community to address targeted student achievement for African-American students. Recognized need to bring stakeholders together to have collective conversation.

16. African – American Parent Advisory Councils (AAPACs)
Safe place for parents/guardians to ask questions, receive, and give information
Culturally relevant information
Allows parents to network with each other, educators, and community partners
Empowers them with information for more effective parent advocacy
Allows families to have input in the school process
ALL LEVELS (Elementary, Middle School, High School)

17. Things to Keep in Mind Be mindful of cultural and language issues
Know your parents and families
Create a parent/family friendly environment
Utilize a variety of methods
Use what you know – what is working?
Understand students’ learning styles
Provide examples, tools, and resources for homework assistance
Be open
Conversation v. Presentation
Get students involved
Solicit input and feedback from ALL
Don’t assume

18. How to start an AAPAC Key staff on board
Establish contact person (make sure the person is passionate)
Coordinate meeting
Get the word out (use several modes, not just Parent link)
Host meeting (develop a list of all African American student’s parent list)
Assess needs
Follow-up

19. Possible Barriers African – American parents sometimes feel…
Unwelcome or uncomfortable in their children's schools
Overwhelmed by expectations and standards
Ill equipped to effectively assist student with homework and projects
Time constraints
Misconceptions, stereotypical and deficit beliefs about African American parents

20. Do you have a heart for AAPAC?
All we doing all we can do to close the achievement gap?
Do you believe all students deserve a quality education?
Do you think all parents want what’s best for their child(ren)?

21. What are we doing to engage our African American families?
Monthly AAAC and AAPAC meetings
Historical Black College Fair
Annual HOPE Conference for African American Families
African American Parent Nights
African American Baccalaureate Service for African American graduates
Black Student Union Events
African American AVID classes
Diverse staff
Hired Behavior Intervention Staff
Hired Social Workers
All male African American AVID classes
Footsteps to Freedom Educator’s Tour

22. What are we doing to engage our African American families?
Student Leadership Conference at USC
Long Beach Indie College and Career Fair
Council of African American Parents (CAAP) workshop series for parents
National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE) Conference
California Association of African American Superintendents and Administrator (CAAASA) conference
Museum of Tolerance
Junior Black Achiever
Targeted funds in LCAP to support parent engagement
Community Based Partnerships
Faith Based Partnerships

23. Historical Black College Fair

24. HOPE Conference

25. AAPAC of the Month

29. Thank you.

32. Questions/Comments

33. Contact Information
Micki Poole Clowney
(951)
(951)
Patty Rucker
ext
Lisa Broomfield
(951)