Mayor Davlin’s Office of Education Liaison and the Springfield Urban League (SUL) are hosting a study group to examine barriers to African American student achievement and success in Springfield.  The goal is to develop a set of policy and program recommendations to support Springfield’s educational institutions and the other agencies and organizations that interface with the youth in our community. 

The  process that will begin with an introductory meeting on June 30, 2005 the Springfield Urban League conference room located at 100 North 11^th Street in Springfield. The group generally convenes as needed but not more frequently than once a month to allow for adequate preparation for subsequent meetings.  The group invites issue area experts to present to the group as well as provide group members with information and data from various sources. 

The process is group-driven with high school graduation rates/drop out, truancy and disciplinary practices as the major focus of review.  We acknowledge the need for concrete solutions to these and other pressing problems faced by African American students in Springfield but this group will first seek to fully understand the scope of these problems.  We expect that best practice interventions will be explored at the appropriate point in the process and recommendations for action steps developed.

Group Facilitators:

Sheila Stocks-Smith, Director, Office of Education Liaison, City of Springfield
(217) 789-2438

Nina Harris,
 President and CEO
Springfield Urban League, Inc.
(217) 789-0830 ext.101