The last Parent Night (held on November 13) proved to be an inspiring and thought-provoking experience. Doctors Howard Stevenson and Edith Arrington from the University of Pennsylvania were our guests and they shared results from their decade-long study addressing the success of African American students in independent schools.
Our presenters shared specifics about some of the distinguishing characteristics of independent schools and some of the benefits and challenges associated with sending African American children, particularly those from low income households, to these schools—the kinds of schools that CPS will encourage its families to consider sending their children for middle and upper school. After sharing operating assumptions and data results, our facilitators engaged the audience in conversation, eliciting honest and provocative feedback from our parents/guardians.
In the end, parents/guardians and teachers alike requested opportunities for follow-up with our presenters and, moving forward, we look forward to facilitating more dialogue with Dr. Stevenson and Dr. Arrington, particularly as we enter our upcoming strategic planning process and continue our efforts at fostering healthy connections between home and school.
The following link will take you to a detailed summary of their findings - http://repository.upenn.edu/gse_pubs/23/ - and the attachment is an article the presenters wrote for Independent School magazine a few years ago.
