UD professor to speak on poverty, race, education Sept. 12

University of Delaware professor Daniel Rich, Ph.D., will speak at the Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice meeting Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m., at the Trinity Faith Christian Center, 15516 New Road in Lewes. The topic is "Poverty, Race, and Public Education in Delaware: Past, Present and Future."

Rich challenges today's leaders to learn from past failures, respond to present conditions, and plan for the future success of Delaware public school students. His illustrated talk will inform and challenge professional educators and the public alike on how the system can serve the students, not the other way around.

Education is often mentioned as a pathway out of poverty. Often the conditions of poverty make that pathway inaccessible. The achievement gap is growing, and must be narrowed. As the school year begins it's an appropriate time to focus on needs, resources and solutions to bridge that gap.

Rich will address these and other issues in his presentation:

• The condition of child poverty in Delaware and its relationship to educational achievement.
• The status of any comprehensive or integrated plan to address the overall challenges of poverty for Delaware children and families.
• The status of focused resources for low-income students, English language learners, and basic special education, K-3.

Rich is university professor of public policy at the University of Delaware and director of the university's Community Engagement Initiative. He also serves as policy director for the Wilmington Education Improvement Commission. Rich received his Ph.D. from MIT, his M.P.I.A. from the university of Pittsburgh, and his B.A. from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York.

SDARJ is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that educates, informs and advocates for racial justice, equality, and fair opportunity. Everyone is encouraged to join SDARJ - membership is free by signing up for email bulletins at sdarj.org or facebook.com/sdarjde.