Altadena's huge academic achievement gap is not getting closed. If we do nothing, our community's achievement gap will not close for centuries to come. By 2020, approximately half of Altadena’s demographic majority will be graduating from high school, usually with eighth grade skills. Those who do not graduate will be among the estimated one million students nationally who drop out of high school every year. Since as many as 60% of the young black men in America who drop out land in prison by the time they are in their 30s, the urgency for putting Altadena’s low income majority on the road to success in college instead of crime could not be greater.

Altadenans are encouraged to attend one of the following sessions to discuss what we can do to bring all students to academic proficiency in a few short years regardless of family background:

Thursday April 1 from 7:30-8:30PM on The Arroyo Channel (Charter 32 or http://www.pasadenacommunitynetwork.com)
Talk About Parenting With Shirlee Smith: Measure CC - The PUSD Parcel Tax
Altadena Schools will be Shirlee’s guest on this live broadcast and call-in show. While the subject will be the parcel tax, viewers can expect the discussion to also relate the pros and cons of the proposed tax to the Altadena Schools effort. Dial-in numbers: 626-794-2552 or 626-794-2116

7-8pm Wednesday, April 21 at Magic Johnson’s Starbucks, 671 N. Fair Oaks at Orange Grove Blvd.
7-8pm Tuesday, May 4 at Café Culture, 1359 N. Altadena Dr at Washington Blvd. http://www.meetup.com/Altadena-Schools/calendar/13340935/ Café Culture will open early for this one-hour event and will remain open until midnight.
7-8pm Thursday, May 20 at The Coffee Gallery, 2029 N. Lake Ave at Mariposa