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For more information contact:
Cleveland City Council
Katherine Bulava Samsa, Media Relations Manager
(216) 857-7362 |
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| Council Members Nina Turner and Kevin Conwell to participate in Governor Ted Strickland's Conference on increasing the High School graduation rate for African-American males |
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Council Members Nina Turner, Ward 1, and Kevin Conwell, Ward 9, will participate in a conference hosted by Governor Ted Strickland and former state Senator C.J. Prentiss, the Governor's Special Representative for Closing the Achievement Gap, on May 30, 2007, in Columbus focused on increasing the graduation rate of African American males.
According to data released by the Governor's office, in the 2004-05 school year, only 64.4 percent of black males graduated from high school in Ohio, compared to white males at 88.2 percent. Overall in the 2004-05 school year, 68.4 percent of black students graduated from high school in Ohio, while 89.8 percent of white students graduated. Awareness of the need to address this issue has been particularly heightened by the recent failure to pass the Ohio Graduation Test by approximately 600 students in the Cleveland Municipal School District.
"The statistics make the need for action very clear," said Councilwoman Nina Turner. "Our City's children are not just numbers. We must reverse the low graduation rate for Cleveland students, particularly African-American males, if our City is to have a positive future."
Additionally, according to data released by the Governor's office, African-American males score consistently lower than both white and Hispanic males on the Ohio Graduation Test.
"It is clear that black males in the public school system are not getting the motivation, support and attention that they need," said Councilman Conwell. "This is a problem that the entire community must fight in order to successfully change the way that kids value education."
The Council Members will join others for a day long conference on the topic that will include breakout sessions, workshops, regional planning sessions and panel speakers. Governor Strickland will address the conference at noon. |
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Cleveland City Council
601 Lakeside Avenue
Room 220
Cleveland, OH 44114
(216) 664-2840
(216) 664-3837 fax
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