FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Why should there be an organization that focuses on the interest of Black children?
ANSWER: A substantial body of evidence demonstrates that Black children have been systematically denied their NC. Constitutional right to a “sound basic education” and their federal Constitutional right to “equal protection of the law.” Black children have the highest dropout rates, the highest suspension rates, the lowest SAT scores, are more frequently placed in Special Education, and lag behind White students by about 30 points on end of grade test scores. At the current rate about ¾ of Black children that attend Pitt County Schools will not be prepared to participate in the future economy. At the core of Pitt County Schools failure to educate Black children is the issue of racism and the lack of will to take bold steps to improve the quality of education for all children, including Black children. If we do not step forward and speak directly to the issues that confront Black children the problems they are experiencing will never be solved.
2. What is Culturally Responsive Teaching?
ANSWER: Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) takes place when a professionally competent teacher accepts diversity, has obtained training in cultural content and cross cultural communication, and applies the skills to effectively provide relevant educational experiences for all students including, Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, and any other race or ethnicity that is entrusted to their care as teachers. CRT involves a level of professional competence that will eliminate the vestiges of de jure racial segregation from the curriculum and instructional program of public schools.
3. Why did the Coalition file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights (OCR) over the Pitt County Board of Education’s Dress Code Policy?
ANSWER: The Coalition filed the OCR Complaint because the Dress Code Policy was specifically designed to target Black students. It has been the cause of many Black students that have never been in any trouble before in school to now lose valuable instructional time from classes and develop a discipline record for minor Dress Code violations. Punishments are not equitably meted out, and the policy and how it is implemented has a disproportionately adverse impact of Black students. The Dress Code Policy is now used as a device to deny Black students a free public education. It is a lot like the illegal poll tax of the past that was used to deny Blacks the right to vote. Dress Codes can be a good thing for schools, but Pitt County Schools policy and its implementation unnecessarily violate students rights.
4. What is “Unitary Status?”
ANSWER: “Unitary Status” is the goal of all federal court school desegregation orders. It is the elimination of all vestiges of de jure racial segregation to the extent practicable. Pitt County Board of Education, the Greenville Parents Association, and the Pitt County Coalition for Educating Black Children are required by Order of U.S. District Judge Malcolm Howard to submit a report to the federal court on the progress of “Unitary Status” in the Pitt County Schools by December 31, 2012.