On January 26, Interim Bridgeport School Superintendent Paul Vallas met with BCAC's Education and Early Care Task Force and more than 40 parents and community leaders to discuss his preliminary plans to improve the Bridgeport School District. Attendees could each ask Vallas one question regarding the school district, and the meeting lasted for nearly two hours. Vallas whole-heartedly endorsed BCACs Bridgeport Children’s Bill of Rights for Education and, as seen in the accompanying photo, signed a facsimile Bill of Rights document. Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, the newly reconstituted Bridgeport Board of Education and the Connecticut Post all endorsed BCAC’s Bill of Rights for Education within the past month.

The Bridgeport Board of Education signed the Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition’s Children’s Bill of Rights for Education at its meeting on Monday, January 24.

Hernan Illingworth, who represents parents on the Board of Education, introduced the Bill of Rights and asked the board to sign the three-foot by four-foot Bill of Rights document.

Robert Trefry, chairman of the Board of Education, signed the Bill of Rights in front of an audience of about 60 parents, educators and concerned citizens.   [read more]

BRIDGEPORT, CT, January 23, 2012 – The Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition (BCAC) has received a $30,000 grant from the Fairfield County Community Foundation to support BCAC’s Parent Engagement Program. The Parent Engagement program has two goals: (1) to engage parents in the education process by encouraging and promoting meaningful dialogue about teacher accountability, and (2) to give parents the necessary tools and strategies to be successful advocates.  [Read more]

Nearly 100 people showed their support for  the Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition’s (BCAC)  “Children’s Bill of Rights for Education” by taking pen in hand and signing their name to the document, which was mounted on a two-foot by three-foot board and displayed at the Community Center of the Mt. Aery Baptist Church in Bridgeport Tuesday evening.

“We have been in a holding pattern since the reconstitution of the Bridgeport Board of Education earlier this summer,” said Mary Pat Healy, BCAC’s Executive Director.   That reconstitution is currently being challenged at the Connecticut Supreme Court level. 

“BCAC felt that setting forth a Children’s Bill of Rights for Education could be a rallying point for all parties with a vested interest in Bridgeport’s education system,” said Frances Newby, Chairwoman of the BCAC Board of Directors.  “We believe our 10-point Bill of Rights outlines the foundation for a revived school system that is accountable to parents and, more important, to children.”

The Children’s Bill of Rights for Education supports a school system and school board that is transparent, equitable, appropriately funded, safe, encourages public engagement, represents  and answers the needs of the city’s  diverse community and which has strong leadership.  “For too long the children of Bridgeport have been short changed in receiving the education they deserve,” said Healy.  “The Board of Education and the school system must be accountable and committed to excellence.  It is not too much for our children to ask.”

At last night’s introduction of the Children's Bill of Rights for Education, State Representative Andres Ayala and Representative Auden Grogins signed the Bill of Rights as did more than 50 audience members.  Many Bridgeport agencies representing the community also signed the document, including the Bridgeport Children’s Leadership Training Institute, Bridgeport Education Fund, Bridgeport Parent Leadership Training Institute, Bridgeport Schools Parent Advisory Council, the Center for Women and Families, Greater Bridgeport Branch of the NAACP, the Greater Bridgeport Latino Network, RYASAP, and the United Way of Coastal Fairfield County.

If you would like to show your support for the Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition’s Children’s Bill of Rights for Education, please click here.

Check out the newest State of the Child in Bridgeport 2011. The report shows the striking disparities between Bridgeport’s children and children statewide, as well as some of the positive gains that have been made from last year to this year. If you would like additional copies, please contact our office.

Take a look at BCAC in the News!  See the letter to the editor Sunday, October 16, 2011 from BCAC Chairwoman Frances Newby and Co-Chairs of the Education and Early Care Task Force Diane Brassell and Marta Calderon.  For more click on the link:  Search for new superintendent must involve the community  

With all that is going on with the Bridgeport Board of Education, it has been a VERY busy summer for BCAC. Take a look at BCAC in the News! click the link to see BCAC’s letter to the editor from the CT Post 8/17/2011.

BCAC has been consumed with the status of the state reconstitution of the Bridgeport Board of Education. This decision came as a surprise to many of us. Events are unfolding at breakneck speed. We would like to share with you what we know so far.Read more…

January

BCAC Board of Directors Meeting, Thursday, January 12, 2012, 8:15am-9:30am, Burroughs Communty Center

BCAC Education & Early Care Task Force Meeting, Thursday, January 26, 2012, 5:15pm-7:00pm, Burroughs Community Center