Legislators, Superintendents, Principals, Teachers, Educators, Parents and Business Leaders wish to be part of the growing movement to eliminate achievement gaps and uplift their communities.

The Black Star Project North Carolina Kick-off
Ceremony & Awards Dinner

Promethean Technologies and Computer Software Innovations are calling on the brightest stars in our business and education community to join us as we recognize North Carolina's most outstanding educators and kick off Black Star Programs in our state.

At this event, you will learn about schools and programs in North Carolina that have made the critical leaps necessary to transform student culture, breathe life into their surrounding communities and assure that every child has an equal chance at succeeding in life. You will also learn about programs that have narrowed and in some cases, eliminated achievement gaps in schools. These programs are now coming to North Carolina, thanks to a unified effort from our communities, schools, districts, businesses and elected officials.

This event includes dinner, an awards ceremony, a silent auction to benefit the "Million Father March," a presentation by Phillip Jackson, Executive Director of the Black Star Project and guest speakers from schools and districts that have significantly narrowed the gap in their communities.

Over $10,000 in classroom technology donations will be presented to several North Carolina Schools and one principal will be given the prestigious Promethean Award for Outstanding Contribution in Education to honor his or her school’s dramatic improvement in raising achievement and inspiring higher standards for its students.

When:

Tuesday, April 4 th:

6:00 – 6:45 reception

6:45 – 8:15 pm - dinner & presentations

Where:

Sheraton Raleigh Hotel, 421 S. Salisbury Street in downtown Raleigh ($89 reduced hotel room rate available)

Cost: $50 per person / $500 per table

Background Information

In the 1990s, fueled by committed leadership and a focused, statewide effort, North Carolina made steady progress toward eliminating their racial academic achievement gap. However, the gap in performance and test scores between Black & Latino students and their White peers in North Carolina is still markedly high. By 4 th grade, a 32-point achievement gap exists in North Carolina between Black & Latino and White students. This gap only increases by high school. Educators across the state seek creative solutions that will stimulate academic achievement while developing community resources that will support children beyond the school environment.

In 2001, SAT scores showed an achievement gap of 206 points between North Carolina's Black & Latino and White students. By the time Black & Latino students reach graduation, the achievement gap is beyond reversal. Charlotte-Mecklenburg, North Carolina is among the twenty cities in the United States with the lowest graduation rates for Black & Latino male students - only 34% graduated with their classmates in the spring of 2002. The racial academic achievement gap that exists in North Carolina is by no means unique to our state.

The Solution

Computer Software Innovations (CSI), a technology vendor to hundreds of schools and districts throughout the Southeast, is calling on private and public organizations throughout the region to support a sweeping effort to bring proven solutions from other parts of the country into North and South Carolina. After researching its successes, CSI agrees with educators statewide that The Black ê Star Project, a Chicago-based not-for-profit organization, offers the best and most appropriate programs for communities in the Carolinas.

A recent study by the National Center for Family and Community Connections with Schools shows that parent and community involvement improves student achievement. Regardless of race, income or language barriers, the benefits include:

• Higher grade point averages and higher scores on standardized tests
• Higher enrollment in more challenging academic programs
• More classes passed and credits earned
• Better school attendance
• Improved behavior at home and school
• Better social skills and adaptation to school

The Black Star Project

The Black Star Project is working to eliminate the racial academic achievement gap by getting parents & communities involved in their children’s education when it makes a difference – early on. By enlisting parents & communities as partners, Black Star is working to reverse the trend and create a better future for these kids. If these kids get a better future, we all do.

Student Programs

Since 1996 the Black Star Project has provided services to over 100,000 students of all races, faiths and ethnicities in hundreds of schools nationwide. By offering the ComEd Student Motivation Program, the Celebrity Reading Program, the Destination College Program, the Wall Pre-College Preparation Program, & the Business and Entrepreneurship Program, the Black Star Programs boost a school’s ability to narrow the achievement gap.

Parental Involvement

To encourage greater parental involvement in the process, The Black Star offers a number of parent-oriented programs. The Million Father March, for example, gets fathers to take their children to the first day of school. In 2005, the March drew 83 cities across the nation – including Raleigh and Goldsboro, NC. Other programs include monthly EducationalForums Educational, the Proud Parent Journal (published six times per year), a Fathers Club, the 100 Concerned Black Mothers Initiative, the Toyota/Black Star Parent University and many parent resource fairs.