2021 Back to School Supplement

2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT

EXCELLENCE

IN EVERY

ENDEAVOR: Supplemental Education Tools

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PUBLISHER Denise Rolark Barnes STAFF D. Kevin McNeir, Editor Ron Burke, Advertising/ Marketing Director Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor Lafayette Barnes, IV, Assistant Photo Editor John E. De Freitas, Sports Photo Editor Dorothy Rowley, Online Editor ZebraDesigns.net, Design & Layout Mable Neville, Bookkeeper Dr. Charles Vincent, Social Sightings columnist Tatiana Moten, Social Media Specialist Angie Johnson, Circulation REPORTERS Stacy Brown (Senior Writer), Sam P.K. Collins, Timothy Cox, Will Ford (Prince George’s County Writer), Jacqueline Fuller, Hamil Harris, D. Kevin McNeir, Kui Mwai, Lee Ross, Dorothy Rowley, Brenda Siler, Lindiwe Vilakazi, Sarafina Wright, James Wright, PHOTOGRAPHERS John E. DeFreitas, Ja’Mon Jackson, Shevry Lassiter, Roy Lewis, Jr., Robert R. Roberts, Anthony Tilghman

5 Dr. Shantella Sherman (Photo by India Kea)

Surmounting Educational Obstacles The passport to increased social mobility in Black communities has rested almost entirely on accessing and availing educational opportunities. Following the Emancipation Proclamation, the American Missionary Association, along with private Black philanthropists and churches, established thousands of Normal schools, colleges, and universities. Irrespective of age, entire families attended classes to first, learn rudimentary grammar and mathematics skills, and subsequent liberal arts, trade, and science-based instruction. Surmounting educational obstacles meant working collectively to ensure everyone who

wanted to learn, could.

Still, with America’s apartheid regime, known as Jim Crow, firmly entrenched, rural, and sharecropping families were prohibited from sending their children to schools. At the same time, middle-class and elite Black families opted for segregated public or parochial schools. As a result, only a minority of Black students received the quality educations they sought.

Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall predicted an end to all school segregation within five years of the Brown v.

Board of Education ruling. And while government-sanctioned laws and ordinances continued to undermine the move to integrate schools, thousands of school systems did attempt to provide equal access. Why? Because being able to rise to the challenges – and overcome them – in order to learn came without an option for failure.

So, as the nation moves to return this year to in-person learning after more than a year of virtual learning, it is important to remember that now, as then – failure is not an option. There is uncertainty, there are unknown variables, there are new practices and procedures, and there is even a bit of anxiety moving about between parents, administrators, students, and teachers. Still, we must push forward.

That said, it is important that we return to a effort of community-supported academic success.

Students: Do your part – work hard and take care of yourselves. This may mean going to bed early, increasing your water intake (dehydration plays havoc with concentration), and make a habit of going over your notes daily so that when test times come, the information has become as familiar as your favorite song. Also, when you need help, speak up. There is no shame in not knowing or even falling behind; we’ve all faced these issues.

Parents: Know your child’s strengths, weaknesses, work ethics, and needs. You are their greatest ally, advocate, and cheerleader, but you must be all of these from a position of honesty. When or if you believe your child is struggling, utilize the resources designed by your school system to get help. Work with your child’s teachers, counselors, and your councilmembers to find best-practices and healthy solutions.

Teachers: Take a bow! You are doing an amazing job against incredible odds, and I commend your every effort. Though many are going above and beyond their duties, few are squarely applauded. Please, keep up the good work and know that it is appreciated. Find time for mental and emotional health breaks during the week to avoid burnout.

Churches: Consider Urban Alternative pastor Tony Evans’ Adopt-a-School Initiative or other platforms that allow you to partner with area schools to assist with guidance, conflict resolution, after school activities, rites of passage, and community service projects.

Finally, as the school year #ReopensStrong do your best to be supportive and kind to one another. We are all trying to figure out the next moves, the safest solutions, and the most effective methods to ensure success. Young people are watching the adults and learning by example how best to handle disagreements about policies, and how to manage frustration and anxiety. Afterall, we sit on a precipice now that will determine how the nation’s youth will value education. Let us teach them our most valuable asset is them.

Read, Learn, Grow.

Dr. Shantella Y. Sherman

www.washingtoninformer.com / 2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT

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Education Disparities … By the Numbers United Negro College Fund (UNCF) data shows that African American students are less likely than white students to have access to college-ready courses.

In fact, in 2011-12, only 57 percent of black students have access to a full range of math and science courses necessary for college readiness, compared with 81 percent of Asian American students and 71 percent of white students.

By Lee Ross WI Staff Writer

Even when black students do have access to honors or advanced placement courses, they are vastly underrepresented in these courses. Black and Latino students represent 38 percent of students in schools that offer AP courses, but only 29 percent of students enrolled in at least one AP course. Black and Latino students also have less access to gifted

African American students

and talented education programs

are less likely to be “college

than white students.

ready”. In fact, 61 percent of ACT-tested black students in the 2015 high school graduating class met none of the four ACT college readiness benchmarks, nearly twice the 31 percent rate for all students.

According to Brookings: The U.S. educational system is one of the most unequal in the industrialized world, and students routinely receive dramatically different learning opportunities based on their social status. In contrast to European and Asian nations that fund schools centrally and equally, the wealthiest 10 percent of U.S. school districts spend nearly 10 times more than the poorest 10 percent, and spending ratios of 3 to 1 are common within states.

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Black children represent 19 percent of the nation’s pre-school population, yet 47 percent of those receiving more than one out-of-school suspension. In comparison, white students represent 41 percent of pre-school enrollment but only 28 percent of those receiving more than one out-of-school suspension. Even more troubling, black students are 2.3 times as likely to receive a referral to law enforcement or be subject to a school-related arrest as white students.

Black students spend less time in the classroom due to discipline, which further hinders their access to a quality education. Black students are nearly two times as likely to be suspended without educational services as white students. Black students are also 3.8 times as likely to receive one or more out-of-school suspensions as white students.

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40th Annual Spelling Bee Open to 3rd - 8th grade students enrolled in D.C. public, charter, private, parochial or home schools.

Registration opens August 20, 2021 Contact your school coordinator or call The Washington Informer at (202) 561-4100 Sponsorship opportunities are available, email rburke@washingtoninformer.com

2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

Accessing Strengthened Educational Resources

By Lee Ross WI Staff Writer

Since 2020, distance learning has required students and parents make their homes an extension of the classroom. This has meant turning households into de facto classrooms – often set up in living rooms, bedrooms, or even backyards. While many households made the transition with only minor disruptions, others have found home schooling more challenging. For instance, in some communities in Mississippi, grammar school students had to walk to local fast-food restaurants to access Wi-Fi and enter the classroom sessions sitting on the parking lot curbs. In others, like D.C., nearly 8,000 children made up a population of shelter-housed students, who had to navigate virtual classrooms with limited privacy, equipment, or focus. Now more than a year into weathering the pandemic, the return to the classroom nears, but many lessons grew from virtual learning. Here are some of the tips necessary to continue successful learning in the 2021 schoolyear.

less children and youth. The local educational agency liaison coordinates services to ensure that homeless children and youths enroll in school and have the opportunity to succeed academically. This means that those resources – whether in-person or virtual are readily available. In total, the $800 million through the ARP Homeless Children and Youth program is the single largest federal investment dedicated specifically to children and youth experiencing homelessness. The Office of the State Superintendent of Education’s (OSSE) Homeless Education Program has invited subject matter experts to present on a variety of top-

ics that impact students and families experiencing homelessness. These onehour monthly webinars are available to LEA/school-based employees, homeless liaisons and community partners.

Presentations typically take place on the second Wednesday of each month from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. beginning October 13, 2021. For more information, visit the OSSE website at www. osse.dc.gov/service/homeless Special Needs (Learning Assessments) The National Association of School Psychologists published “The Pandemic’s Impact on Special Education

Evaluation and SLD Identification,” a resource that describes practical steps that school psychologists and school districts can consider. Fears exist that based on the lack of in-person instruction and a halt to evaluations, some students are likely to return to school with even larger deficits between skill and their new grade-level expectations.

This makes class-wide intervention so important. However, there will still be a number of students whose academic deficit persists after class-wide interventions occur. Because student skills may be lower, interventions that seemed effective last year may not be effective this year. The District’s Di-

Homeless Students Under the McKinney-Vento Act, every local educational agency is required to designate a liaison for home-

vision of Specialized Instruction Resource Guide offers parents, families, and community members resources to assisting children who may have disabilities or special education needs.

Division of Specialized Instruction Resource Guide – www.dcps.dc.gov Social Emotional Learning and COVID Recovery This school year, through the Trauma Responsive Schools model (TRS), DCPS will begin using social emotional learning with academic instruction.

In establishing five non-negotiable healing-centered practices, DCPS believes it can reset the foundation for safe and inclusive spaces for students to process their feelings. Every teacher will spend dedicated time with their classroom or homeroom students to build relational trust, according to DCPS’s Reopen Strong initiative. “Social emotional learning doesn’t stop at school. Through our Family Cornerstones, we have activities for families and students to do together to support emotional wellbeing,” said DCPS Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee. For more information, visit www.dcpsreopenstrong.com BTS

WELCOME BACK, DCPS FAMILIES and EDUCATORS! DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS START AUG. 30.

WE WILL BE 100 PERCENT OPEN. After a difficult year, we can’t wait to see you.

We are excited to welcome EVERYONE back this year.

WTU teachers are prepared and ready to get back into their classrooms after such a challenging year. We know that students learn best from their trusted, highly qualified teachers, who will use every tool at their disposal to enhance teaching and learning.

And we want to make sure each student gets all of the social and emotional support they need after being out of school buildings for more than one year.

The Washington Teachers’ Union is working with DCPS to help enroll students, sign up children for required school immunizations and put residents in touch with health professionals to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine.

We encourage all students 12 years and older to get the vaccine. www.wtulocal6.net

www.washingtoninformer.com / 2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT

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READY 2 RECONNECT: What You Need to Know

for Back-to-School in PGCPS Submitted by Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS)

Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) is ready to reconnect with students for the 2021-22 school year!

On September 8, after more than a year of distance and hybrid learning, we look forward to the return of most students to classrooms for full-time, in-person learning.

This year, PGCPS is also launching a new Online Campus for students in grades 7-12 who thrived in a virtual environment and want to continue to make online learning their approach to school in the future.

The Online Campus is a new full-time, innovative speciality instructional program where students will take all of their classes online through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous instruction. This is not a short-term program in response to the pandemic.

Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we also have a temporary Virtual Learning Program for students in kindergarten through sixth grade who are under the age of 12 and currently ineligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.

10 Tips to Prepare for the School Year!

Back-to-school is as easy as A-B-C with these top tips to get students and families #Ready2Reconnect.

1. Mask Up! Masks are required for all students, staff and visitors in schools and office buildings.

2. Be Wise: Immunize!

Don’t forget to add routine immunizations to your prep list. The Prince George’s County Health Department is hosting community and school-based clinics through September 25. For dates and to make an appointment, visit www.pgcps.org/ immunizations.

3. PGCPS Proud to be Protected!

For the health and safety of our community, COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for all students 12 years of age or older.

4. Get on the Bus! Families with children who ride the bus to school can expect to receive bus route information the week of August 23. All students will be required to wear a mask when riding the school bus. Also be sure to download the StopFinder school bus app from the App Store or Google Play to view student routes and bus location once school begins. Families must have an up-to-date email address in SchoolMax to activate the subscription.

5. Attend a Drive & Dash!

Join us at one of three locations (Charles H. Flowers, High Point or Oxon Hill high schools) on Saturday, August 21 to prepare for the upcoming school year. We’ll have our annual backpack giveaway, en-

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tertainment and will host a student vaccination clinic at Flowers High School.

6. School Supplies & Uniforms Although uniforms were optional last year during hybrid learning, students who attend a school with a uniform policy will be required this fall. A school supplies list is on the PGCPS website (www.pgcps.org).

Check your school’s website or correspondence for more specific guidance.

7. No Child Hungry Meals will be offered at no cost to all students this school year! Menus can be viewed on the PGCPS website.

8. Complete the Meal Benefit Application Although meals are free this school year, families are still encouraged to complete the meal benefit application, which determines eligibility for the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer Program (P-EBT) and more. Households can apply for meal benefits online at myschoolapps.com.

9. Stay Connected!

Don’t miss important news and updates. Make sure your contact information is updated in SchoolMax. Sign up to receive newsletters, text and email alerts on the PGCPS website and follow PGCPS on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn).

10. Show and Tell!

Let us know how your family is preparing for the school year by tagging PGCPS on social media with #Ready2Reconnect for a chance to be featured! BTS

2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

DC Schools Prepared to Welcome Students Back DC Launches New Website: backtoschool.dc.gov Submitted by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education

5Deputy Mayor for Education Paul Kihn

The District is excited to welcome students, families, and staff back to school this fall for in-person learning, five days a week. We know that many students have spent more than a full school year physically apart from their teachers, classmates, coaches, mentors, and friends. And it is critical for the academic, social, and emotional wellbeing of our young people that we work together to open our schools and keep them open. To ensure a successful school year, public health officials and school leaders are preparing for a variety of scenarios

WELCOME BACK TO RECESS!

WELCOME BACK TO THE BEAT!

and layering protecStudents thrive in the classroom. That’s why DC schools have prepared tions for students, for safe, in-person learning. We are back-to-school ready. families, educators, and staff.

Visit backtoschool.dc.gov to learn more about “We know that how DC has prepared for safe in-person learning. in-person learning is best for students – not only academically, but also for their social and emotion- staff will be required to be fully vac- for families to access all they need to al well-being,” said Deputy Mayor for cinated, or be tested weekly and pro- get ready for school. From informaEducation Paul Kihn. “The District vide a negative test result. Additional- tion on making appointments for has been working closely with schools ly, all DC schools have robust plans required immunizations, to the latest across the District to make in-person in place for cleaning and disinfecting health and safety guidance, this onelearning as safe as possible.” and have updated building oper- stop shop will help families feel confiAll students and staff will be re- ations and protocols with current dent about going back to school. quired to wear masks while inside health and safety guidance.

No matter what grade your child is school facilities, and Mayor Bowser This summer, the District also be- in or where they go to school, the Disrecently announced that all DCPS gan offering incentives for students trict is committed to ensuring a safe re12 and up who get vaccinated against opening, providing equitable supports COVID-19. Newly vaccinated stu- and resources for student and staff dents can get $51 gift cards or Air- well-being, and maximizing learning Pods at select sites. And all students during the return to in-person classes. who are vaccinated will be eligible to If you do not have children in win a $25,000 college scholarship or school, you can still do your part to an iPad and headphones in drawings support our young people by getting that will begin later this month. vaccinated against COVID-19.

The Bowser Administration has Together, we can support our young also launched a new website – back- people, crush the virus, and make this toschool.dc.gov – to make it easier a successful school year. BTS

“We know that in-person learning is best for students – not only academically, but also for their social and emotional well-being,” said Deputy Mayor for Education Paul Kihn. “The District has

DC is making it easy for everyone ages 12 and up to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Get vaccinated and be even more confident heading back to school.

been working closely with schools across the District to make in-person learning as safe as possible.”

Go to backtoschool.dc.gov to learn more about childhood immunizations and the COVID-19 vaccine.

www.washingtoninformer.com / 2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT

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WELCOME BACK TO HALLWAY HANGOUTS! School is more than just a building.

It’s where friends, memories and a love for learning are made. DC is ready to go back to school.

Visit backtoschool.dc.gov to learn more about how DC has prepared for safe, in-person learning.

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2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

T Mobile Working To Bridge The Digital Divide As the son of two educators and a father of four, education has always been a subject near to my heart. It’s also been an ever-present priority in my professional life, both when I was the Policy Chief for the National Urban League and when I served as the Legislative Director for now-Vice President Kamala Harris when she served in the United States Senate. The welfare of Black children has always been a driving force in my work and a central concern of the different policy positions I helped champion and support over the years.

Ours is an increasingly digital society, and the ways we live, work, and play continue to rely on technology and internet connectivity.

As we continue to navigate the very real challenges associated with the ever-evolving coronavirus pandemic, our reliance on technology is sure to increase. What was once

viewed as a luxury to some has now become the primary – if not exclusive – means of maintaining some semblance of normalcy during this time. And yet, while internet connectivity has become an essential part of our lives, more than 21.3 million Americans are still stuck on the wrong side of the digital divide.

In few places is this divide felt more severely than among America’s

school children. As Dr. Nicol Turner-Lee of The Brookings Institution noted, “With a disproportionate number of school-age children lacking home broadband access, the breadth of the U.S. digital divide has been revealed as schools struggle to substitute in-school resources with online instruction, electronic libraries, streaming videos, and other online tutorials.”

It goes without saying that our nation’s problem achieving universal home broadband adoption has been one of our greatest shortcomings as a society. Now, more than ever, it’s easy to see just how dire the consequences of that lack of access can be. Faced with the ongoing spread of COVID-19, and its attendant effects, we’re coming to realize that America may be faced with a new normal, at least in the months, and potentially years, ahead in which more and more of our daily life is

migrated online. Even as we come back together in person for school and work, connectivity is the price of admission to modern society, and we must make sure that our kids are not left behind.

At T-Mobile, we’re making an effort to bridge the homework gap by increasing wireless connectivity through Project 10 Million, a five year, $700 million commitment to get 10 million families connected to the internet nationwide. For the duration of this program, we are providing free wireless hotspots and 100GB of data to households with children enrolled in the National School Lunch program, at no cost to students or their families. We also offer discounted laptops and tablets as part of this effort, and families and school districts interested in learning more about the program can visit www.t-mobile. com/p10m for more information.

www.washingtoninformer.com / 2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT

As kids head back to school, we’re committed to supporting their progress with new technology resources and we’re laser-focused on helping to bridge the digital divide.

The future we face is uncertain in many ways, but one thing is for sure, the internet will continue to be a critical part of the ways we connect and engage, perhaps more now than ever before. Being able to get and stay online is no longer a luxury for those who can afford it.

All people, regardless of geography or economic status, must be given a chance to be active participants in our increasingly digital society.

Clint Odom VP, Strategic Alliances and External Affairs, T-Mobile

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THE FIRST NATIONWIDE 5G NETWORK

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2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

DYK: Did You

know?

African Americans Made Educational Gains 1940-2019

By Lee Ross WI Staff Writer 88 percent of Blacks Have a High School Diploma, 26 percent a bachelor’s degree

Put Vaccines On Your Back-to-School List Vaccines are the best protection against vaccine-preventable diseases.

All DC students must have their immunizations up-to-date before the next school year begins.

The COVID-19 vaccine is also available for eligible age groups.

dchealth.dc.gov/immunizations

Stay Informed! www.washingtoninformer.com

About 90 percent of the U.S. population has graduated high school, a dramatic improvement in educational attainment that began when compulsory education was adopted by every state a century ago.

But the most striking social shift is the shrinking of the high school attainment gap between Blacks and the national average.

In 1940, when the U.S. Census Bureau started asking about educational attainment, only 7 percent of Blacks had a high school education, compared with 24 percent for the nation as a whole.

In 1940, less than 5 percent of all adults and only 1 percent of Blacks had completed four years of college. The persistent gap in rates between Blacks and the national average was 4 percentage points at that time, while Black college completion was one-fourth the national rate.

In 2019, both groups had much higher college attainment rates overall, with the national average at 36 percent, while 26 percent of Blacks ages 25 and older had attained a bachelor’s degree. Despite the percentage point gap, Black college completion has grown closer to about three-quarters of the national average.

Public school student demographics show, White students make up 47.0 percent, Hispanic students, roughly 27.2 percent; and Black students: 15.1 percent. Conversely, public school teacher demographics note White teachers make up 79.3 percent of the teaching body, Hispanics, 9.3 percent; and Black teachers, only 6.7 percent.

BTS

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DCTAG FAQ What is DCTAG and what does it cover?

The D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) program helps eligible students attend an approved public college or university by providing up to $10,000 annually to make up the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition. Eligible students attending an approved Washington, D.C.-area private college or an approved Historically Black College or University anywhere in the U.S. can receive up to $2,500 per year.

Where can families get the application and what is the deadline?

The DC OneApp can be found at https://dconeapp.dc.gov. The 2021-22 DCTAG application is now open and will close on Friday, Sept. 17 at 5 p.m.

Are there any family income guidelines?

Yes, the student’s family taxable annual income must be below the income thresholds as outlined at https://osse.dc.gov/dctag. If you have questions, please contact your DCTAG Counselor.

Who is eligible for this program?

This award is for U.S. students who reside in the District of Columbia and are in good academic standing in their first bachelor’s degree program. A checklist of required supporting documents can be found at https://osse. dc.gov/dctag.

Are the children of undocumented parents eligible if they are U.S. citizens or legal residents?

Yes, if the student meets the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) eligibility standards and their parents are domiciled in Washington, D.C. Students will need to meet all additional program requirements.

Eligibility standards can be found at https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/eligibility.

Do students have to reapply every year?

Yes, students need to apply each year to be considered for funding.

Because of COVID-19, some schools may only have remote classes again this fall.

Will DCTAG still cover the tuition?

If a student attends an approved DCTAG college or university, online classes will be covered by DCTAG if the out of state public tuition charges are in place and all other requirements are in place for the public or private college or university.

What if a student decides to sit out this semester, can they use their funds for spring 2022?

A student planning not to attend college in fall 2021, but enroll for spring 2022 needs to complete 20212022 application by the Sept.

17 deadline. If awarded funds,

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they will be able to use one semester’s award not the annual amount.

Sometimes applying for financial aid can be complicated. Can you share a few tips to help make the process easier?

Please read and review all application materials thoroughly.

Staff email addresses and phone numbers can be found at https:// dconeapp.dc.gov/contact-information . DCTAG counselors can also provide language assistance and help students complete the forms.

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DCTAG, Apply Now.

Take Classes In-person or Online If you’re 26 or younger, a DC resident with a high school diploma or GED, and meet a few other requirements, the DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) can help by providing up to $10,000 a year to participating colleges and universities, nationwide.

Apply by September 17, 2021, to begin classes this fall.

TEXT DCTAG @ 474747 to get started. dconeapp.dc.gov

2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

Dr. John A. McMillan WI Contributing Writer

The R.A.P. for the New School Year

In the past, the first days of school sparked anxiety around these types of questions, “Who is my child’s teacher?” or “How will my child transition from middle to high school?” With former-President Donald Trump out of office, a government where bipartisanship is a curse word, and where COVID-19 eclipses everything, today’s first days of school conjure new forms of anxieties that are paralyzing parents with fear.

Parents are sending their kids to school with the mind-frame that it is a life-or-death move, and to think about it; it really is. Nonetheless, many parents and students will reluctantly confront these elements and go to school in various forms. Whether the schools be virtual, parochial, charter, magnet or

private in nature, there are a lot of universal things that parents and students can do to prepare themselves for today’s brave new education world, but all they really need to do is R.A.P. The R in this acronym stands for REFLECT. Before families begin to get into the flow of school, the first thing they must believe

about all challenges is “this too shall pass.” Not only do they need to become philosophical, they need to tap into their spirituality to spark the positive attitude necessary to engage the school year.

As stated previously, fears about COVID-19 double the anxiety that many families currently have, so mental health needs consideration in this reflection process.

Parents should take an accurate account of their children’s mental health.

First, let your children know they are loved and supported, let them lead open and honest communication about their lives, watch for and address behavior changes, and model healthy coping skills to deal with problems.

Parents should also monitor their own mental health. Understand, that it is important to seek counseling where there are deficits in

life. For example, if people are suffering financially, they should seek help from a financial advisor. Reflection can give families the courage to face the educational climate without fear.

Next, families need to ADJUST. There is a saying that, “No man steps in the same river twice…the water is constantly moving, and he is not the same man.” Education is based on knowledge which changes every day, and families must keep up. Also, rules, policies, and practices that were relevant last year may be deemed ineffective today. There are too many times when educators hear, “it wasn’t like that last year.” Families have to adjust to this pace.

The best way for them to do this is to learn their district and what it has to offer. They should research who to contact to handle certain issues. Once they find out this information, they should not only hold these officials accountable, but they should also remember to be an ally of the school and hold their children responsible when necessary. It is important to remember that school officials are the professionals, but they are also human. They are under the same pressures as everyone else. They have to know that the families trust and are working with them.

Once the reflection and adjustments are made, PREPARATIONS have to take place. Understand that failing to prepare is preparing to fail. The best way a family can prepare is to set educational goals for their students to achieve. For instance, several

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states offer the Hope Scholarship which is granted to all high school students who maintain a 3.0 grade point average. It is extended through four years of college as long as the GPA is maintained.

Parents should prepare and focus their students on getting this scholarship as a goal. Preparation comes about when families understand what a district has to offer as far as benefits and resources and in turn mold their students in that direction. Another way for families to prepare is to get all contact information from teachers and work as a team with the teacher.

This sets the tone for both the student and the teacher and it helps foster a better relationship. Education is a precious resource that helps young people succeed. Parents have to model and lead young people through the process, so that they are ready for life. R.A.P is one way to help.

Dr. John McMillan is an Assistant Principal and administrator who has worked in public education for more than 20 years. Ten of those years he served as an English teacher, and five as the Smaller Learning Community Coordinator. Dr. McMillan is dedicated to serving all students in an effort to increase their self-awareness, self-efficacy, and self-reliance while assisting them in reaching their goals of graduating from high school and becoming global citizens of society. BTS

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Recent & Recommended Books to Promote Academic Excellence

By Lee Ross WI Staff Writer Black Lives Matter at School: An Uprising for Educational Justice

By Denisha Jones, Jesse Hagopian Since 2016, the Black Lives Matter at School movement has carved a new path for racial justice in education. A growing coalition of educators, students, parents and others have established an annual week of action during the first week of February.

This anthology shares vital lessons that have been learned through this important work. In this volume, Bettina Love makes a powerful case for abolitionist teaching, Brian Jones looks at the historical context of the ongoing struggle for racial justice in education, and prominent teacher union leaders discuss the importance of anti-racism in their unions. Black Lives Matter at School includes essays, interviews, poems, resolutions, and more from participants across the country who have been building the movement on the ground.

Closing the School Discipline Gap: Equitable Remedies for Excessive Exclusion

By Daniel J. Losen Educators remove over 3.45 million students from school annually for disciplinary reasons, despite strong evidence that school suspension policies are harmful to students. The research presented in this volume demonstrates that disciplinary policies and practices that schools control directly exacerbate today’s profound inequities in educational opportunity and outcomes. Part I explores how suspensions flow along the lines of race, gender, and disability status. Part II examines potential remedies that show great promise, including a district-wide approach in Cleveland, Ohio, aimed at social and emotional learning strategies. Closing the School Discipline Gap is a call for action that focuses on an area in which public schools can and should make powerful improvements, in a relatively short period of time.

Teaching Reading in Today’s Elementary Schools

By Betty Roe, Sandra H. Smith, Nancy J. Kolodziej This book sets the standard for reading instruction to ensure that aspiring teachers are able to help students learn the mechanics of word recognition, how to comprehend what they read -- and enjoy the process. The book advocates a balanced approach to reading, presenting newer approaches with more traditional approaches that have proven value, such as phonics, vocabulary instruction, and strategies for literal and higher-order comprehension. Practices are featured, such as use of recent technologies for literacy learning, varying approaches with attention to dealing with the many types of diverse learners in today’s classrooms and use of close reading techniques with appropriate materials to enhance the learning experience.

Nurturing Your Child’s Math and Literacy in Pre-K–Fifth Grade: The Family Connection

By Mary Mueller, Alisa Hindin

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FALL 2021

DISB HIGHER EDUCATION SERIES

Oct. 14 FAFSA Completion Oct. 21 Scholarship Strategies Oct. 28 College Selection

Are You a College Bound High School Senior?

Join the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking Student Loan Ombudsman for a series of workshops designed to help high school seniors prepare for college.

Learn how to complete the FAFSA successfully; create a targeted strategic plan when applying for financial aid; research, apply and compete for scholarships and grants; and evaluate colleges and the cost of attending school.

DATES

Thursday, October 14, 2021 Thursday, October 21, 2021 Thursday, October 28, 2021

TIME

5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION Ricardo Jefferson Student Loan Ombudsman dcloanhelp@dc.gov disb.dc.gov/studentloanhelp

TO REGISTER

bit.ly/3yzTDZr

With recent changes in the curriculum and standards in language arts and mathematics, parents often are challenged to find ways to help their children be successful in their learning endeavors. While parents want to be involved in their children’s education, they are often unsure of their role in their children’s learning and the best ways to help their children to succeed academically. Moreover, with the changes in how math and literacy are being taught, parents often struggle with helping even first grade children with their homework. In this book we set out to alleviate this struggle, by offering parents a resource they can use to navigate their child’s education, communicate with teachers, and support their children in learning mathematics and literacy. BTS

2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

Black Minds Rising

Black-owned Tutoring Companies Lindiwe Vilakazi WI Staff Writer Sankofa Homeschool Collective.

Journalist and grassroots activist Sam P.K. Collins specializes in strengthening and enhancing the natural abilities of African American students to ensure they are centered mentally and spiritually.

Collins’ tutoring encourages mastery of math, English, and other core subjects, as well as proper identity formation. www.sankofahomeschool.org

RISE (RESOURCES TO INSPIRE STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS.) RISE-DC helps low-income youth in Washington, DC, achieve academic and career success. This is accomplished by providing educational resources such as high-quality tutoring and college and career mentoring – free of charge. www.risedc.org Ms. Murray’s Corner, LLC. Atlanta-based tutoring company but is currently providing robust, virtual, one-on-one lessons. Ms. Murray’s Corner serves students in Pre-Kindergarten through Second Grade. We are focused on Literacy and Math with concepts ranging from Reading Comprehension, Fluency, Phonics, Addition and Subtraction, Multiplication and Division. www.msmurrayscorner.com Black Girl Tutors.

Black Girl Tutors believes that educating our youth is at the foundation of building our community. They take a unique and innovative approach to teaching that helps students connect with the subject matter they need to master. www.blackgirltutors.com

www.washingtoninformer.com / 2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT

Differentiating Minds, Inc.™️®️ focuses on and enriches the individual academic needs of students through the use of differentiation, research-based instructional strategies and unconventional approaches that build confidence and encourage intrinsic motivation. www.differentiatingminds.com It’s Not Complicated Education.

This is a private, prescriptive, tutoring company focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and standardized test preparation. Our Holistic approach uses the clients learning style, instructor input, and customer expectations to develop a learning plan that promotes success. www.inceducationllc.com Kevin’s Mentor and Tutor Services.

In addition to providing practical, customized one-on-one lessons with his students, Kevin is also very intentional about connecting with them on their level and providing mentorship to help aide them through the challenges they are bound to encounter. www.kevintutoring.com BTS

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VIRTUAL

IN-PERSON

HYBRID

Strive FOR EXCELLENCE

Virtual, In Person or Hybrid... your child’s success depends on you.

As a parent, you have to be involved in your child’s education to make sure he or she has everything they need to succeed.

LEARN MORE AT WWW.NNPA.ORG/EDUCATION

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2021 BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com

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