AAPC
(ANY ANNOUNCEMENT OF AAPC MEETINGS WILL APPEAR HERE.)
Welcome to the African-American Parent Committee (AAPC) site!
The AAPC is a group of concerned District 20 parents and staff members who are working to increase student achievement within the African-American student group.
When the federal No Child Left Behind legislation (NCLB) was enacted, it required that data from annual state tests be disaggregated into groups to ensure that minorities, English language learners, low-income and special education students were meeting State standards. The results of the data in District 20 showed that the African-American groups and special education groups were not meeting standards. Special education students by definition have learning disabilities and the data reflected those disabilities. However, the lower scores of the African-American student population were not as easily explained, and were not acceptable.
Dr. Carol Auer, Superintendent and Dr. Dorothy Dirks, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction met with African-American parents to brainstorm on how to increase student achievement and motivate young African-American students to set their sights on post-secondary education and high level careers.
Since that first meeting, the AAPC has organized educational parent meetings, read-ins, a Web site with links to helpful academic sites (see information below), a Hanover Park Community Center (see information below), and a partnership with the College of Dupage called "Dare to Dream" under the consult of Mr. Robert Nichols from C.O.D..
The purpose of the "Dare to Dream" program is to increase African-American awareness of the opportunities available to all individuals with proper education. Mr. Nichols arranged for the fifth grade class of Greenbrook Elementary School to visit the College of DuPage to introduce them to college life and possible career aspirations. The college staff prepared a tour plus presentations on several possible career choices. Next year, Mr. Nichols will continue to foster interest in higher education with the same fifth grade group which will be in sixth grade, and bring the new fifth grade students to College of DuPage to begin a similar program. During the summer, the College of DuPage will bring summer enrichment classes to Keeneyville School District 20 and provide financial assistance to as many eligible students as possible.
A group of community members, including Pastor Jennie Swanson of the Living Christ Church in Hanover Park, Alison Swade of the Bartlett Press, Mayor Rod Craig of the Village of Hanover Park, the Poplar Creek Public Library, DuCAP, the College of DuPage, Goodwill Foundation, the Evangel Assembly of God, and Keeneyville District 20 are sponsoring a Hanover Park Community Resource Center (HPCRC) at the Living Christ Church (the blue church) in Hanover Park on Greenbrook Boulevard and Arlington Drive. Beginning March 1, 2008, the HPCRC will be open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. to provide services such as library materials for all ages, a quiet study center with volunteer tutors, an Internet-equipped computer lab, and more. To volunteer as a tutor at the Center, please contact .........................
The results of the 2007 ISAT scores have shown growth in the African-American student achievement. The AAPC invited Mr. Jesse White, Secretary of State in Illinois, to celebrate the occasion. Mr. White proved to be an inspiring and dynamic speaker, complimenting the improvement, encouraging African-American students to continue the charge to become the best they can be and asking parents to set high expectations for their children.
We need more ideas and more parents to become involved. If you are interested in joining this dedicated group, please contact the chairperson, Mr. Phil Anderson, at . To visit the Parent Connections page to access academic resources and helpful parent information please click here.
Here are the flyers that promoted previous AAPC activities:
