“How we talk about a problem is how we address it.”
– Linguist and educator Erin Jones at the White House’s 2013 Champions of Change roundtable.
Join Out First Twitter Chat Next Week
Two weeks ago, the National Urban League launched the second phase of our Put Our Children 1st campaign in partnership with ONE Solution. Our efforts are central to the Urban League’s broader educational goals around equity and excellence, and specifically anchored to our call for the equitable implementation of Common Core State Standards (CCSS).
When we surveyed parents in four of our affiliate markets last spring, we discovered that half of all parents were not familiar with CCSS, nor how it was being resourced and executed locally. The fact that CCSS has become politicized in the year running up to mid-term elections isn’t shocking, but it has led to gross misinformation and deliberate distortions, which threaten to undermine its responsible implementation at the expense of our children’s public education.
This coming Wednesday, October 15, we’ll host the first of a monthly Ask the Expert Twitter series to provide information and clarification on CCSS. Our goal is to provide our communities with the opportunity to learn about CCSS, share feedback, and ultimately, encourage excellence and access across K-12 public education.
For our first Ask the Expert chat, we’re excited to feature the voice behind our recent PSAs, Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League. Marc has had direct experience in creating and overseeing educational policy at local and national levels. As a Louisiana state senator, he was named Education Senator of the Year; he is also former president of the bipartisan U.S. Conference of Mayors.
In the coming months, we will continue to feature individuals with extensive experience with CCSS, including teachers, administrators, and policy makers. They will use the platform to answer your concerns and share any updates and strategies to help your child get the most out of a public education.
A few housekeeping details in advance of the discussion:
- The 30-minute Twitter chat will take place on Wednesday, October 15, at 1:00 p.m. EDT.
- Submit your questions to us in advance! ‘Like’ our Facebook page and post your questions there with the hashtag #1stChat. Or follow us @NatUrbanLeague and tweet us your questions using #1stChat
Wednesday’s first Ask the Expert with Marc Morial will focus on the Urban League’s overall education programs and how they support CCSS goals. The chat will also dispel misconceptions about Common Core, offering factual information about the Standards, as well as their implementation in 43 states and the District of Columbia. The conversation will feature a mix of your submitted questions, as well as live questions, which will leave time for follow-ups and ongoing conversation after the chat ends.
We’ve found that Twitter is a superb platform to host virtual town halls, as well as to connect with other users one-to-one. We urge you to use this as an opportunity to network with experts, educators, and fellow parents, both in your community and nationwide – to become empowered about educational opportunity.
The equitable implementation of Common Core is a key component to our long-term agenda for social and economic equality. You are a stakeholder in its success. Tweet the change you want to see.
