Release date: Nov 11, 2009

OUR MISSION

To increase access to high-quality educational options for Black children by actively supporting parental choice policies and programs that empower low-income and working class Black families.

Parental choice is widespread in America - unless you are poor. Affluent families have choice because they can move to different neighborhoods or communities, send their children to private schools or supplement schooling with tutors and enrichment programs. Lower-income and working-class families, meanwhile, are typically trapped with one option - a school in need of improvement.

BAEO PURPOSES:

•  To educate and inform the general public about parent

   choice initiatives on the local and national level;

•  To educate Black families about the numerous types

    of educational options available; 

•  To create, promote and support efforts to empower

    Black parents to exercise choice in determining options

    for their children’s education; and

•  To educate and inform the general public about efforts

    to reduce or limit educational options available to parents;

OPTIONS BAEO SUPPORTS:

•     Charter schools
•     Public Schools

•     Private and Independent Schools
•     Privately financed scholarships
•     Government-Financed Vouchers for low-income parents
•     Tuition tax credits and deductions

•     Cyber Schools
•     Home schooling
•     Supplementary Education Programs


SOME BENEFITS OF PHILADELPHIA BAEO MEMBERSHIP:
  

•   Receive a priority consideration to our Scholarship Program

•   Support efforts to expand educational options for children

•   Receive a subscription to BAEO National and local newsletter
•   Receive discounts on BAEO conferences and workshop

     registration fees
•   Receive a Membership Certificate and lapel pin
•   Receive free or discounts on BAEO publications

WHO SHOULD JOIN BAEO:

Anyone over 14 who is ready to join an organization committed to educating parents about school choice and expanding quality educational options by actively supporting any or all of the following:

*  PARENT EMPOWERMENT:  Philadelphia BAEO conducts

   Parents With POWER!  Sessions in different locations

   throughout the City, educating parents about becoming 

   advocates for their child’s education, their right to 

   school choice, and the quality educational options that are

   available to them both within and outside of the Philadelphia

   School District.  Workshop topics have included:    

   Building and Strengthening Your School’s Parent  

   Organization; Private School Applications and Financial 

   Aid; Communicating with Teachers and Administrators;

   Discovering Your Child’s Learning and Behavior Styles;

   Strong Fathers, Strong Schools; Navigating the Public

   School System; and Educational Options Available in

   Philadelphia and beyond.

*  SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS:  Philadelphia BAEO has

   formed two scholarship programs through Pennsylvania’s    

   Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program.  Scholarships

   have been awarded to more than 605 low-income students

   toward tuition at the private school of their choice.

*  QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER:  Philadelphia BAEO

   issues a quarterly newsletter containing educational

   resources for students and informing members and

   community activities              

*  ADVOCACY:  Philadelphia BAEO acts as an advocate

    for low-income parents’ right to choose where and how

    their child should be educated.  Parents are encouraged

    to exercise this right through various media forums, special

    projects and BAEO-sponsored events.