Multicultural Education Concerns Advisory Committee Goals

2010 – 11 GOALS

MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION CONCERNS COMMITTEE

“The mission of the MECAC is to serve as a voice for the wide diversity of families in the Anchorage School District and to promote educational success for all students in the ASD, helping overcome challenges to achievement associated with low socio-economic status and ethnic and cultural diversity.”  (ASD School Board Policy 177.3 Multicultural Education Concerns Advisory Committee, March 23, 2009).

2010-2011 ANNUAL GOALS of MECAC

MECAC has appointed the following subcommittees and Chairs to attain the following Annual Goals:  (1.) Community and Parent Outreach, (2,) School Climate and Environment, and (3) Curriculum and Proficiency.  The subcommittees and their subsequent goal development were guided by the overarching principal of addressing the achievement gap.  (ASD Memorandum #37 (2010-2011), Adoption of School Board Goals, August 9, 2010, ASD Memorandum #63 (2010-2011) Adoption of Board-Directed Objectives, September 13, 2010, and MECAC Guidelines Revised, March 17, 2005.)

Community and Parent Outreach Subcommittee
Chaired by Mildred “Polly” Miller

1. MECAC Members will conduct individual school visits based on their High School attendance area appointments.
2. Publish MECAC tri-fold brochure.
3. Create MECAC Member Generic Business Cards.
4. Update MECAC Website.

School Climate and Environment Subcommittee
Chaired by Lamin Jobarteh

1. Review the ASD’s anti-bullying initiatives, and make recommendations.
2. Monitor the minority employee retention and promotion opportunities, and inform the ASD on potential employment barriers.
3. Review nutritional and dietary issues related to ethnic and religious viewpoints, and make recommendations to the ASD.
4. Review the ASD’s disciplinary policies and administrative practices to determine how they affect the achievement gap, and make recommendations.

Curriculum and Proficiency Subcommittee
Chaired by Dan Loring

1. Review the achievement gap (data) to determine how curriculum and instructional practices affect students who are not performing at grade level.
2. Review the ASD’s No Child Left Behind Adequate Yearly Progress of Level 5 schools to determine how the District uses the State of Alaska Department of Education and Early Development “alternative Governance” option to assist chronically under-performing schools.
3. Review the ASD’s student social promotion administrative practice to determine how it affects curriculum and education success for students, and whether it impacts the achievement gap.
4. Provide a report to MECAC focusing on curriculum, instructional practices and proficiency outcomes by June 2011.  This report will make recommendations, to assist the ASD in eliminating the achievement gap between racial, ethnic and economic groups.

In addition to subcommittee efforts, MECAC as a whole will strive to meet the following commitments to promote the educational successes for all ASD students:

1. Complete the revision of MECAC Guidelines by June 2011.
2. Attain 100 percent representation at the remaining regularly scheduled School Board meetings.
3. Attain Quorums at 100 percent of the remaining regularly scheduled MECAC monthly meetings.
4. Complete the appointment of 9-11 MECAC members, by June 2011.
5. Conduct annual election of Officers at the regularly scheduled MECAC Monthly meeting in June 2011.
6. Continue to hold quarterly Co-chair/Subcommittee Chair meeting with Superintendent in March and June 2011.
7. Provide an Annual Written Report to School Board, at its regularly scheduled meeting on June 27, 2011.