NEW ORLEANS, La. (Nov. 16, 2015) – The Urban League of Greater New Orleans (ULGNO), in conjunction with the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE), and other statewide businesses, education institutions, and community organizations, is committed to strengthening education in Louisiana and ensuring that all parents and educators are prepared for the release of the 2015 PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) student results mid-November.
On Thursday, November 19, ULGNO will host a PARCC Family Fest from 6–8 p.m. at the Louisiana Art & Science Museum in Baton Rouge. Family Fest is open to the public and provides parents the opportunity to engage in one-on-one discussions with teachers on their child’s PARCC report. The event will include giveaways, helpful information on how to read and use PARCC student reports, community resources from organizations such as the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO) and the Unity Project and refreshments for the whole family. Additionally, children and families may explore the Art & Science Museum during this free event.
“Family Fest is a wonderful opportunity to connect families to available resources in our community that will aid in advancing our children’s learning,” said John Spain, Executive Vice President of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation.
The ULGNO is working in collaboration with the East Baton Rouge School District and local surrounding area schools to provide transportation for families to attend the event. For information on bus pick-up to Family Fest, please call 504-620-2332.
This fall, ULGNO joined with the LDOE and more than 100 education, community and business organizations across the state to share parent and teacher guides and sample student reports with Louisiana teachers and families. The goal: to help parents and teachers better understand the findings in each student’s PARCC report, while providing opportunities for improved learning at home and in the classroom.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Department of Education and our community, to proactively prepare families for the release of the PARCC results,” said Erika McConduit-Diggs, President and CEO of ULGNO. “These resources will pave the way for our children’s future success and help teachers continue to have important discussions with parents about how their children are performing and what steps need to be taken for them to advance to the next level.”
The online resources for families and teachers created by the LDOE include:
● Parent Guide to PARCC Student Results: A guide to help parents read and interpret the PARCC student reports, with accompanying online resources.
● Model Parent-Teacher Conference Video: A video demonstrating a model parent-teacher conference around the PARCC student reports.
● Sample PARCC Student Report: ELA
● Sample PARCC Student Report: Math
For more information about the PARCC student reports and available resources, please visit the LDOE’s Family Support Toolbox or Classroom Support Toolbox.
WHO: The Urban League of Greater New Orleans (ULGNO) and Baton Rouge-area families
WHAT: PARCC Family Fest
– Free admission /open the public
– Meet with teachers to interpret student results
– Receive PARCC tips/resources
– Explore the Louisiana Art & Science Museum
WHEN: Thursday, November 19, 2015
6–8 p.m.
WHERE: Louisiana Art & Science Museum
100 S. River Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
(225) 344-5272
In addition to ULGNO’s outreach, teachers, educators and parents have received these resources through the following statewide channels:
Education organizations:
● Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana
● Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools
● Black Alliance for Educational Options
● Louisiana Middle School Association
● Louisiana Association of Teachers of Mathematics
● Education’s Next Horizon
● Be a Learning Hero
● Teach for America Louisiana – New Orleans & South Louisiana
● Stand for Children
● Louisiana Board of Regents
● American Federation for Children – Louisiana
● New Schools for Baton Rouge
Community organizations and businesses:
● PJ’s Coffee shops*
● Hardee’s Red Burrito*
● McDonald’s*
● ASI Federal Credit Unions*
● Public libraries statewide – 68+ locations
● United Way of Southeast Louisiana
● Urban League of Greater New Orleans
● Families Helping Families Southwest Louisiana
● Baton Rouge Recreation and Parks Commission (BREC)
● Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Louisiana
● East Baton Rouge Housing Authority
● Bossier City Housing Authority
● Family Resource Centers in New Orleans
● Louisiana Municipal Association
● The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of Shreveport
● Jefferson Performing Arts Society
● Junior League of New Orleans
● Temple B’nai Israel
*Participating locations
Business organizations:
● Committee of 100
● Council for a Better Louisiana
● Monroe Chamber of Commerce
● Lafayette Economic Development Authority
● New Orleans Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
● West St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce
● Bossier Chamber of Commerce
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About the Urban League of Greater New Orleans
The Urban League is a non-profit, non-partisan, community-based organization established in 1938 and is one of 95 affiliates of the National Urban League. The mission of the Urban League is to assist African-Americans and other communities seeking equity to secure economic parity and self-reliance. Programs of the Urban League’s three Centers of Excellence are focused in the areas of education and youth development, workforce and economic development and public policy and advocacy. For more information on the Urban League, visit us online at www.urbanleagueneworleans.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@ULGNO).