(PRESS RELEASES) Rainbow PUSH Host Annual Back to School Rally
Special guest Judge Greg Mathis helps launch the 50,000 Parent Pledge initiative and distributes school supplies
CHICAGO (August 1, 2011)-With the Chicago Public Schools' academic year for Track E students beginning next week, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition's PUSH for Excellence program will host their annual back to school rally and promote the importance of parental involvement and increased school attendance. The event takes place this coming Saturday, August 6th and students who attend will receive a free book-bag with school supplies. "Parents are a children's first teacher," said Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., founder and president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. "This year we are taking a particular focus on engaging parents and encouraging them to take an active role in their child's academic success."
This year the organizations intends to a launch the Seven Point Parent Pledge initiative with the goal of having 50,000 parents sign the oath nationwide by December 31, 2011. The parent pledges states,
I will:
1. Take my child to school
2. Meet my child's teacher
3. Exchange phone numbers with my child's teacher
4. Turn off the TV three hours a night so my child may study
5. Pick up my child's report card each grading period
6. Take my child to church, temple or synagogue
7. Fight for equal adequate funding for public education
Students will also be expected to sign a similar agreement. The student pledge states,
I will:
1. Attend school daily and strive for excellence in all that I do
2. Respect the authority of my parents and teachers
3. Study three hours each night without interruptions from anything and anyone
4. Read each day
5. Complete all classroom and homework assignments
Decades of research has shown when parents are involved children have better grades, tests scores, graduation rates, increased motivation, better self esteems, fewer instances of violent behavior and higher high school graduation rates.
