Education Summit Week.....September 9- 15, 2007

Theme:  Future Ready Students…College & Beyond

Purpose Statement:
Education Summit Week is designed to provide focused activities and sessions based on the eleven recommendations from the Close the Gap Committee of Cleveland County.  These recommendations are aligned with state and national recommendations for raising achievement and closing achievement gaps for all students.  Sessions will focus on the data that reveals the need for the community to continue efforts to support achievement at high levels for all students and to expand efforts to close the achievement gap.  Education Summit Week 2007 will focus on school readiness, college preparedness, career explorations, and the annual close the gap progress report for elementary, middle, and high school students.  This year’s Education Summit Week will provide educators, parents, community and faith-based leaders, and our partners in education with information and resources needed to continue to move forward in raising achievement and closing the achievement gaps between groups of students.  Although we have made progress in this area, more is needed to prepare our youth for success in the 21^st century

Education Summit Week Highlights:

Thursday, September 13, 2007 ( 8:00 am-10:00 am )
Location:  Office of School Readiness
  124 Post Road
Session Focus:  School Readiness/Preschool
Sponsors:  Office of School Readiness and Partnership for Children
Targeted Audience:  Parents, Childcare Providers, Community & Faith-based Leaders          
RSVP:  Gail Greene (704-476-8061)  ggreene@clevelandcountyschools.org by 9/4/07

Thursday,  September 13, 2007 ( 5:30pm-7:30pm )
Location:  Shelby Middle School
Session Focus:  College Preparedness
Speakers:  Student Panel  & Parent Panel
Targeted Audience:  Students, Parents, Administrators, Counselors, Leaders
RSVP:  Gail Greene (704-476-8061)  ggreene@clevelandcountyschools.org by 9/4/07

Friday, September 14, 2007 ( 5:00pm – 6:30pm )
Location:  Cleveland Regional Hospital @ T.R. Harris Conference Center
Session Focus:  “Meet and Greet Summit Speakers”
Guests:    Marvin Pittman & Kwain Bryant
Targeted Audience:  Public
RSVP:  ggreene@clevelandcountyschools.org by 9/4/07

Saturday, September 15, 2007 ( 8:30am - 12:00 )
Location:  Cleveland Community College
Session Focus:  9^th Annual Education Summit & 5^th Annual Youth Summit
Highlights:  Data Report, Storytelling, Hands-on Science
Targeted Audience:  Public

Recommendations from the Committee on Closing the Achievement Gap

1) Cleveland County Schools and the community continue to focus on the Raising Achievement and Closing Gap Initiative as a top priority for the system.

2) Cleveland County Schools and the community focus on addressing the secondary raising achievement and closing the gap issues such as discipline referrals and suspension rates.

3) Cleveland County Schools in cooperation with local health and human service agencies, faith-based institutions, and families develop a framework and program plan for appropriate early intervention programs and services.

4) Cleveland County Schools, in partnership with community stakeholders, establish community roundtables for all individuals and agencies to have on-going discussions and strategic planning regarding the services and activities needed to support schools, students, and families to increase student achievement and performance.

5)   Cleveland County Schools and other community stakeholders work to coordinate all school support services to address particular needs and challenges of students and families by tying volunteer services to specific outcomes.

6) Cleveland County Schools, in partnership with faith-based and other human service agencies, work to develop strategies and networks to identify children and families in need of various types of supportive services.

7) Identify and implement an outcome-based parent involvement/parent training program in Cleveland County .

8) Develop a plan and strategies to increase the participation rate of students in higher-level courses and academically gifted programs.

9) Develop, plan, and implement a schedule to provide additional on-going cultural competency training and professional development for employees and community leaders.

10)  Establish a working committee to include school officials and community stakeholders to develop and implement a plan of action for the recruitment, retention, and promotion of minority educators.

11)  Identify target areas for raising achievement and close the gap efforts to determine appropriate funding sources that can assist in the support and implementation of the Close the Gap Initiative.