Pastors coalition releases education-choice platform; will call on gubernatorial candidates to sign
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 2, 2015
Contact: Pastor Jerry L Stephenson, Senior Pastor, Midwest Church of Christ
The news conference will take place, 9:30am, Monday, October 5, 2015 at Christ Temple Christian Life Center, 723 S. 45th, Louisville, KY 40211
KENTUCKY PASTORS IN ACTION COALITION WILL RELEASE IN A PRESS CONFERENCE, MONDAY OCTOBER 5, 2015, THE WEST LOUISVILLE 2016 EDUCATION PLATFORM, CALLING FOR EDUCATION EQUALITY FOR CHILDREN IN WEST LOUISVILLE, CLOSING THE EVER-INCREASING GAP BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE STUDENTS
The Kentucky Pastors in Action Coalition is a diverse group of Faith Leaders in Louisville Demanding More Choice for Parents, Students in Education, said Pastor Dr. Shannon C Cook.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Kentucky Pastors in Action Coalition (K-PAC), a diverse group of faith leaders, releases its 2016 Education Platform calling for charter schools and parental choice to address the pervasive school failures in Louisville that have disproportionately affected African-American and low-income Kentuckians.
“Education equality is the civil rights issue of the 21st century; it is the dividing line between success and failure for our children. But a lack of innovation in schools has blockaded our children from the opportunity they deserve,” said Pastor Milton Seymore, president of the Justice Resource Center of K-PAC. “Kentucky leaders can begin fulfilling the promise of education equality through our platform: charter schools in West Louisville, education savings accounts for families and expanded choice through vouchers for prekindergarten.”
The group’s platform was crafted in response to the low-achieving public schools of Jefferson County and the performance gaps for minority students. In Louisville’s Metro Council Districts 4 and 6, an average of 80 percent of students are below-proficient in reading and math.
Bishop Dr. Michael Ford, Sr., Senior Pastor, Christ Temple Christian Life Center said, “For too long, education in Kentucky has been measured by how it appeases elected officials, bureaucrats and administrators rather than how it can provide opportunity for our kids, which is why we are demanding reforms that empower parents as decision-makers. Frankfort isn’t looking out for children of color so it’s time to give their parents the tools to do it themselves.”
K-PAC will be contacting all of the gubernatorial candidates and candidates for Attorney General asking them to take a public position in support of funding public charter schools and providing parents choices in education.
The Kentucky Pastors in Action Coalition (K-PAC) is a faith-driven coalition dedicated to being the voice calling for education equality for children of low-income, working-class, black and white families in Metro Louisville’s West End communities.