MeckEd is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that mobilizes leadership, rallies resources, and engages the community so that all Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Students achieve significant and measurable academic success. To advance our mission, MeckEd sponsors community workshops to engage broad representation of our community in informed, positively constructive conversations about Public Education. Use the links below for copies of the handouts and resources presented at our workshops. Please visit the (Public Education Resources link) section on our website or contact us if you want any additional information.
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History, Geography and CMS - The Tour
Only 10 seats left!
"The content is superb. One of the best parts of the program was the people in attendance."
- A former tour participant
MeckEd and Levine Museum of the New South invite you to join a lively and interactive exploration of the historical context behind Charlotte's school issues. We'll learn some school history, focusing on Charlotte's experience as the U.S. test case for court ordered busing. Mostly we'll be looking at patterns of economic separation and racial segregation over time. This Discussion Tour evolved from an orientation that Dr. Gorman asked Levine Museum of the New South to give him when he arrived. He's since sent many administrators and principals on this discussion tour.
Goals:
- To build understanding about historical and geographic factors that continue to influence CMS and our community's perspective on public education today
- To help stakeholders understand demographic trends, housing patterns and their affect on CMS's planning
- To raise awareness among participants about the range of educational facilities across CMS neighborhoods and some persistent disparities
- To prepare participants to be bridge-builders and problem solvers as the community comes to terms with our common stake in CMS
Who:
- Community residents and leaders representing a broad cross-section of Charlotte
When:
- Saturday, February 6, 2010, from 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Cost:
- $15.00 per person plus the cost of lunch (limited scholarships are available). There is a limited enrollment of 50 per tour.
Advanced registration and payment are required.
Please make checks to Mecklenburg Citizens for Public Education and mail to:
129 W. Trade Street
Suite 1555
Charlotte 28202
Itinerary:
Pre-Work:
Recommended reading: Frye Gaillard's book, The Dream Long Deferred: The Landmark Struggle for Desegregation in Charlotte, North Carolina. Books available through Levine Museum of the New South.
Instructors:
- Dr. Tom Hanchett, staff historian at Levine Museum of the New South, author of Sorting Out the New South City: Race, Class & Urban Development in Charlotte, 1875 - 1975 (UNC Press, 1998). tom@historysouth.org www.museumofthenewsouth.org
- Dr. Robert Hanes, former Deputy and Interim Superintendent, CMS (1980-1987) and former Superintendent of Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools; Adjunct Professor, College of Education at UNC Charlotte (1989-2002).
- Dr. Pamela Grundy, curator of Levine Museum's Changing Places exhibit, author of four books including an 8th grade history of NC, researcher on Charlotte-Mecklenburg school desegregation for UNC Chapel Hill's Southern Oral History Project. pamgrundy@earthlink.net
Agenda:
8:30 SHARP Welcome and overview
8:40-9:45 Slide talk: Sorting Out Charlotte - Tom Hanchett
Goal: explore surprising shifts in race and income segregation over time.
9:55-11:00 History of the desegregation of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools - Dr. Robert Hanes and Dr. Pamela Grundy
Goal: learn about Charlotte and busing: successes, challenges, changes
11:00-11:30 Group discussion
Goal: consider implications of what you've heard for education today
11:30-12:30 Tour some inner ring neighborhoods: Brooklyn, Belmont-Villa Heights, Central Ave.
Along the way, we'll see two nearby schools whose very different populations
reflect current hot-button issues of pupil assignment and resource allocation
Goals: glimpse older black and white working class areas, also today's main immigrant corridor.
Gain insight into the persistent challenges in meeting disparate educational needs in our community
12:30-1:30 Lunch at United House of Prayer for All People, 2321 Beatties Ford Road
(Vegetarian meals available) Group discussion continues.
2:00 Back at Levine Museum of the New South
For more information, contact Rosalyn Allison-Jacobs
rajacobs@mecked.org, or Sarah Pierce, 704.335.0100 x 221
Public Education Series
Book Club Discussion "Whatever It Takes"
Geoffrey Canada's quest to change Harlem and America, by Paul Tough, published by Houghton Mifflin Co.
Additional reserach reading of interest and specifically cited and discussed include: (click on the link below to access the webpage)
Washington Post, July 27, 2009 "Poor Neighborhoods Key In Income Difference" by Alex MacGillis
Duke Energy Education Day - August 26, 2009
(click here for a PDF of the presentation)
Where We Stand: Global Competitiveness and Education in the 21st Century - August 20, 2009
Charlotte Chamber Northwest and Lake Norman Chamber
(click here for a PDF of the handouts)
In recent years, if the U. S. had closed the gap between its educational achievement levels and those of better-performing nations, such as Finland and Korea, gross domestic product (GDP) in 2008 could have been $1.3 trillion to $2.3 trillion higher. This represents 9 to 16 percent of GDP. The United States is in an economic race, competing with countries around the world, and our schools will affect the outcome. Join us for breakfast and learn about our education system and its priority in a globally competitive economy.
Education Series
Featuring Leonard Pitts, Pulitzer Prize winning national columnist and author of "What Works?" a series of columns on programs around the country that show results in improving the lives of children.
- "We Believe" PowerPoint slides Click Here
Where We Stand: Globalization and Education in the 21st Century
The U.S. is in an economic race, competing with countries around the globe. The outcome of that contest will have a lot to do with our schools.
- PBS Documentary about public education Click Here
- "Did You Know: Video Click Here
- Resource list Click Here
School Board Leadership Series
Leading Our Schools: A Community Forum for Prospective Board Candidates
Education Briefings for Candidates for Office In 2008
Education Briefings for Candidates for Office in 2008 - The Drop Out Issue
Education Briefings for Candidates for Office in 2008 - School Finances
Education Briefings for Candidates for Office in 2008 - Teacher Quality
Education Briefings for Candidates for Office in 2008 - Testing and Accountability
The Context of Education in North Carolina
Leading Our Schools: Understanding School Finance and Budgeting
Charlotte Mecklenburg School - Budget Process Timeline
NC Forum - Understanding School Finance
CMS Funding Evaluation Guidelines - Operating Funds
Leading Our Schools: Testing and Accountability
NC Forum - Testing and Accountability
ABCs and AYP in North Carolina and Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools
ABCs and AYP in North Carolina and Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools II
Leading our Schools: The Nuts and Bolts of running a Campaign for School Board
2009 Election Dates and Deadlines
2009 Additional Important Filing Dates
So You Think You Want To Run For School Board
Tuesday Forum Presentation July 7, 2009
Trends in Educational Achievement: An International, National and Local Comparison of Student Performance
Compiled from data prepared by McKinsey & Company, North Carolina Department of Instruction, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, Education Resource Strategies and ies National Center for Education Statistics, this presentation creates a context for understanding CMS student performance. It provides a demographic analysis by race, gender and social factor for CMS students. Click Here
The Forum opens at 8 a.m. at the West Charlotte Recreation Center, 2400 Kendall Drive, just down the hill from West Charlotte High School. The phone number is 704-393-1560.
Rotary Presentation - July 14, 2009
Click Here for the slides presented
