Help may be on the way for parents who want more of a say in their children’s education. The LEARN coalition—a group that advocates for education changes in Nebraska—will kick off a new support parent union for parents this week in north Omaha.
Clarice Jackson is one of the women behind the initiative. Jackson is the mother of Latecia Fox, who died last January when a shooter randomly fired bullets into an Omaha house party. Her 13 year-old son, Mekhi Mitchell, sat by her side as she talked about launch.
“My son has flourished in the public school and has been on the honor roll and all of that,” said Jackson. “Where my daughter had issues and concerns because she struggled to read, write and spell because of dyslexia.”
Jackson said Fox was passed all the way to fourth even though she could not read. Jackson fought school officials tirelessly to make improvements to the system. She knows not all parents have that ability.
“I have never met a parent who did not want better for their child. They may not always know how to get that, but they want it,” said Jackson.
The group hopes to have a voice in educational issues and lobby for changes that raise educational standards in neighborhoods with high drop-out rates. She hoped the project would build an army of voices to support families.
“Often times we are heard, but nothing happens. And there are things that need to occur based on what parents view is important, because these are our children and these are our schools,” Jackson said.
The group begins the process to build the group Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Goodwill near 72nd and Ames.
