VNN ANNOUNCES PLANS TO SUPPORT A BIRMINGHAM MAYORAL CANDIDATE

Birmingham -- Voter News Network will lend support to one of the candidates in the Birmingham mayoral race by infusing $200,000 in cash and $100,000 in in-kind services to the office seeker with the best vision of progress for the city and realistic plans for making it happen.

William Parker, director of VNN said the organization of independent voters decided to be involved in the October 14, Birmingham race because of the impact the city has on the state and the Southeast.

"Birmingham is a major center for banking and health care. We are at a critical juncture in this city and the direction of its leadership at this point will determine how we grow businesses, enhance communities and develop solutions to transportation problems," Parker said.

"To date, about 11 people have either qualified to run for mayor or have expressed interest in the office. More than likely, there'll be a run off," Parker said. "We are certain that the best candidate is out there and VNN is committed to supporting candidates with a proactive agenda for addressing the needs and concerns of our constituents."
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Money for the support of mayoral candidates will come from 10 political action committees that are coming together to assist in providing the needed revenue. VNN has already raised $240,000 for the election. He said Mr. Donald Watkins Jr. has played a key role in raising the PACs' cash.

Dr. Richard Arrington Jr., Voter News Network's director for political affairs will set the framework in place for establishing candidate support. "Dr. Arrington has more than 28 years experience in Birmingham city government and has led the city from a period of turbulence to prosperity. We have full confidence in his ability to work with candidates in this year's election."

Parker stressed that candidates will be selected for support following an evaluation process developed by the group. "VNN is committed to identifying candidates who appeal to independent voters and want to address issues that affect our pockets and provide a better quality of life," Parker said. "No other organization has publicly stepped forward to say that it is ready to support candidates. But this is an important election, and VNN will be involved on October 14 and in the runoff if one is necessary."

Founded just two years ago by businessman Donald Watkins, VNN already has established a track record of supporting winning candidates. In Alabama's 2002 general election, VNN's bipartisan slate of statewide candidates won all nine statewide races, including Governor Bob Riley, Attorney General Bill Pryor, U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions, State Treasurer Kay Ivey, Associate Supreme Court Justice Harold See and State Auditor Beth Chapman, all Republicans. Democrats elected statewide and endorsed by VNN included Lt. Governor Lucy Baxley, Secretary of State Nancy Worley, and Commissioner of Agriculture Ron Sparks.

In addition to the Alabama races, VNN has also supported successful candidates in other states including New York Governor George Pataki and Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker.

"The scope of VNN is not limited to Birmingham. Our network is nationwide, therefore, we must take an active role in areas where we know our supporters will benefit," Parker said. "While we are now setting in motion our support for a candidate in the Birmingham mayors race, we have even greater tasks ahead with the 2004 national elections." Parker said VNN will be active in the 2004 presidential election in key states such as California, Illinois and Florida.

A TALE OF TWO FUTURES: PUBLIC EDUCATION IN ALABAMA
By Paul R. Hubbert

Next year could be the worse of times for public education or it could be the best of times. You will help decide which it will be on September 9th. We are truly facing a crossroads leading to the future. As accurately as possible, I will attempt to paint a word picture of public education facing the worst times, followed by the best of times. Of course, the times described below are hypothetical scenarios but are one of many variations of a scenario that could become very real in the 03-04 education budget. Either one could really happen.

First, proration of $150 to $200 million is likely just to finish this year on September 30th. To avoid it, we will borrow from the Oil and Gas Fund. But, that money will have to be paid back over the next five years.

Next year (03-04), as school starts, about 6,000 pink slipped teachers and support professionals are brought back at a cost of $140 million - money that we don't now have.

However, the full faith and credit stand behind Senate Bill 1. So there should be no fear of calling personnel back. Local systems will be paid. That means we are now $340 million in the hole funding our schools and we haven't included the $145 million from the ETF needed for PEEHIP and TRS.

In our worst of times scenario, the reform and tax measure failed on September 9th so, we now face the need for #340 million. On September 10th or 11th, the legislature comes into special session and refuses to pass any new taxes, since the voters rejected the Amendment 1 package. So the 03-04 Education budget must be cut.

Let's see - where do we start cutting. The 6,000 called back to work must go at the end of the year. That saves $140 million (for 04-05) but we need to cut about $300 million for 03-04.

What do we cut next? PEEHIP has increased $103 million over last year. It could be paid for out of pocket by the teachers, retirees, and support professionals. That cuts our school funding deficit to $200 million in the Education Trust Fund budget.

Let's see now, another $50 million could be saved by delaying our funding of TRS for a year or two until times are better. That leaves us $150 million short in the ETF budget. Then by cutting classroom supplies, technology, teacher center funding, professional development funds, at-risk programs, the textbook program, and then cutting the remainder out of 2- and 4-year colleges, presto, we have a balanced budget - except we still have four more payments owed to the Rainy Day Fund, which kept us out of proration this past school year.

Now, how does next year look after balancing the ETF budget with no new revenue?

Because of personnel cuts we had to put 50,000 students into other classrooms and increase all other class sizes, take $100 million out of the employee's pockets to fund PEEHIP, leave TRS actuarially unsound by $50 million for future retirees, drain off all instructional support funds from the classrooms, and decrease the public school employee rolls by 6,000 teachers and support professionals, and take money from 2- and 4-year colleges. And oh yes, one other I almost forgot, no money for future raises for employees or COLAs for retirees was left over.

That's just on example of a scenario that could happen if we fail on September 9th. There are other ways to paint the picture but, believe me, none of them are pretty.

On the morning of September 10th, the world looks the same but a new day is dawning in Alabama. For the first time since 2000, education's funding is not in jeopardy. The loan made from the Oil and Gas Fund to get through the 02-03 fiscal year can be repaid easily and now additional funds are available to be budgeted to start improving our schools next school year. Students who work hard and make average or higher grades can apply for and receive a scholarship. Reading, math, and science will see a new emphasis, as additional personnel (approximately 1,500) are made available and every school will get more instructional supplies and resources in the classroom to improve student achievement in the basic subjects.

Stipends and scholarships will be available for teachers willing to teach in difficult geographical and low socioeconomic locations and in content areas with personnel shortages.

PEEHIP and TRS will be funded as required by the actuaries (from state dollars) and these programs will remain sound and safe. Funds will be available from time-to-time for cost of living raises for active personnel and for retirees. All personnel contracts will be honored and the annual spring pink-slipping for financial reasons will cease.

Classroom supply money ($525) allotted to teachers will get to the classroom and additional funds for common purchases, i.e. paper, ink, etc., will be sent to the schools in a category called "Additional Instructional Supplies" and not taken from teacher allocations.

Class size will continue to grow smaller as new courses in reading, math, science, advance placement, foreign languages, music and art programs, along with vocational education programs continue to expand and personnel are employed to handle them.

More accountability in handling public school dollars will be imposed. The superintendents must demonstrate their competence in handling money just as teachers must now show competence in their classrooms. They will be given written examinations on finance and law. A custodian of funds must report expenditures and disbursements to the board of education and must face review by the Department of Education's Finance Division and submit to an audit by the Examiners of Public Accounts. The days of misspending in the central office, causing cuts in classroom teachers and support professionals, will be drawing to a close.

As important as these educational changes are, they are no more important than shifting a huge tax burden from the backs of poor people, who make as little as $4,600 a year and pay income taxes, to those more able o pay. Wallace Malone, who holds $123 million in SouthTrust bank stock and draws a salary and bonuses in the millions each year, has come out against Governor Riley's Plan. Need I say more? Rumor in Montgomery has it that he and some other organizations plan to spend up to $3 million fighting to kill a program that, in my opinion, is out last chance to do the RIGHT THING for education and for the future of Alabama.

When this package passes, Alabama will still have low taxes, keeping us in line with the Southeast. Only Arkansas and Louisiana will have lower property taxes, for example. No business will be able to leave Alabama for lower taxes in another state.

Years ago, I decided I wanted to live and raise my family in Alabama. No one could love a state any more than I. One daughter, with her husband and my grandchild (soon to be another), has chosen to live here, too. I want to leave Alabama better for them. That is why I believe, investing in Alabama's future makes good schools. In fact, the entire infrastructure of our state has its roots in the quality of our schools.

On September 9th, you, too, will make a choice about the king of Alabama you want. By doing nothing, not voting or by voting no, you will say that schools should move backwards, as described in the first scenario. That will be an expensive non-vote or no vote, because of the cost to our students and the cost to ourselves, because of the out-of-pocket increases in PEEHIP, the lack of future COLAs and raises will surely happen, not to mention letting Alabama drift to the economic backwaters of America.

A yes vote will make all the difference in your future, your family's future, and especially, Alabama's future. Its passage will truly mean "Morning in Alabama" and we will begin to take our place among the country's leading states.



STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION: UNDERSTANDING JEFFERSON COUNTY POLITICS
By Jack Williams

Last year I had the opportunity to write my first article for the Voter News Network. For those of you who don't remember, I wrote about how the 2002 election was a critical election for the African-American community. I attempted to make the case that the 2002 election provided voters with an opportunity to break from straight Democrat voting and support a Republican candidate who had worked hard in the Black community and who had campaigned hard for Black votes. I laid out the benefits that awaited the black community if they started to show independent thinking and a willingness to support Republicans who had earned their vote. I even had a particular candidate in mind - me. At the time I was running for re-election to the office of Jefferson County Tax Collector. Apparently, I was not convincing enough in my argument. I lost my bid for re-election.

Many of my friends and most political observers thought my strategy was flawed. I will admit there were times that I wondered about it myself. However, I believed that I was the Tax Collector for all the citizens in Jefferson County and that it was wrong to ignore over 40% of the population. If I had it to do over again I would campaign the same way. As I look back, even though I lost the race, I see more successes than failures.

I secured the endorsement of 4 different African-American political organizations. As a matter of fact, my Democrat opponent attacked me for having black support. He put signs up at white polling places that said, "Jack Williams is endorsed by Mayor Arrington's Coalition." Even with those tactics he lost miserably in the white boxes - but carried over 90% of the black vote. I knew with the strategy I was using I would have to get at least 10% of the black vote. I wasn't able to pull that off. So, what were the successes?

The endorsements were big. Very big. I was the first Republican ever endorsed by the Jefferson County Citizen's Coalition. I was also the only Republican endorsed by the New South Coalition. I worked hard for these endorsements - and I was proud to have received them.

Financial support was very solid from the Black community. I raised over $60,000 and between 15-20% came from the Black community. I don't think any Republican has ever had a well-funded campaign and raised such a high percentage of their money from the Black community.

The biggest success, however, was the support from African-American leaders. I was supported by 15 - 20 former or current African-American elected officials, several Black business leaders, and I had the privilege of meeting with and being supported by several leading African-American pastors. I was able to gain their support without compromising my principles, as a conservative Republican, and these individuals were able to support me without departing from their core Democrat values.

With all of that support, coupled with the base white Republican vote in the county how did I lose? My opponent had enough name identification (his father is a Circuit Judge) to peel off just enough of the white vote to overcome the gains I made with the black vote. That, coupled with a 3rd party candidate, was enough to beat me.

My biggest problem? - My message did not penetrate to the grass roots black voters. But, I'm not discouraged. Because I worked hard and I had many leaders in the black community - some who had never supported a Republican - support me. Some of these leaders had been on the opposite side of the fence from me for many years. We found a way to work together because we wanted to see Birmingham and Jefferson County changed.

But, you see, that's why these men and women are called leaders. They see the need for change sooner than others do and they help to craft solutions. Does that mean any of them will become Republicans? Probably not. However, they have made it easier for the average black voter --- who is not daily involved in politics --- to support a deserving Republican in the future.

These men and women have sent a message to the Democrat Party : "Don't take our vote for granted," and to Republicans they have said, "Work for it and you can get our support." But, most importantly, they stepped forward to show the African American community that it was ok to support a Republican. It wasn't a winning strategy in 2002 - but it will be in the future.



THE FUTURE OF MASS TRANSIT IN JEFFERSON COUNTY
By Carol Reynolds

In a recent newspaper article that explained the need for tax reform in Alabama, Gov. Bob Riley said, "No one likes to raise taxes, least of all me." He continued, "On the other hand, the inevitable is here". He certainly made a good point. The state of our state is a fiscal mess.

The same point should be made about an opportunity to advance the future of mass transit in the Birmingham region, which was recently squandered in the halls of the Alabama Legislature. No one wanted to foot the bill for this, either, but the state of our present transit system (term loosely) is also a mess.

There were two bills pending in the Legislature that would have restructured the composition of the Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority and provided a permanent funding source required to build and operate a state-of-art transit system in the Birmingham metropolitan area. Yes, it would have the cost the citizens of this region who drive cars, on average, maybe an extra hundred dollars a year. But for that additional expense the benefits to our community - which would have been extrapolated to every single member - included: a convenient, economical and wide reaching system for reliable travel, enhance overall economic viability, a decrease in traffic congestion, and a significant improvement to current levels of ozone pollution that pose serious health risk to residents and stifle our ability to recruit industry to Birmingham.

For the past five years, U.S. Senator Richard Shelby earmarked funding for this transportation project, but, to date no action has been taken. The clock is ticking and our time has all but run out. In Washington, D.C. office, Shelby explained, in no uncertain terms to my colleagues, Birmingham City Council members Valerie Abbott and Elias Hendricks, that if we failed to seize the momentous opportunity now, these monies would disappear forever. That scenario, simply put, is unacceptable.

Until Oct. 1 Birmingham has been given the opportunity to receive federal funding that matches our local contribution to this transit project at a ratio of 80 percent federal dollars to 20 percent of local dollars. By anyone's math, that's a great deal. Over a decade, this could amount to a billion-dollar investment into our local economies. The funding source identified in the proposal legislation more than covered our end of this bargain.

Although this simple truth doesn't seem to enjoy much credence in Montgomery, no Alabamian can afford to lose sight of the fact that what is good for Birmingham is good not only for our region, but it is also good for the state. As the largest and the most diverse city in the state, Birmingham is the economist engine that drives the entire state forward or, conversely holds it back. Creating a modern and efficient transit system for this most critical region is not only good for Alabama - it is essential. The ability to recruit new business, conventions and tourism to our beautiful city hinges directly on our ability to provide efficient transportation, not to mention that our existing citizenry deserves efficient transit. Our present system is not even adequate.

The appalling politics recently displayed in Montgomery surrounded these transit bills like a noose and effectively choked out the voices of Birminghamians in a stranglehold tragic proportion. After every major local stakeholder to the project endorsed and supported it, Birmingham's best interests were tossed aside by the personal pettiness of a minority of elected officials. This is unforgivable. (It also provides the strongest example of an object lesson underscoring the need for the implementation of municipal home rule that I could possibly imagine.)

There is one small window of hope left for accessing these dollars for our community. If similar legislation is introduced and passed in a September special session of the Legislature, we still might have a chance to take advantage of the federal dollars. Call and write your senators and representatives in Montgomery and demand that they place Birmingham's future above their own political ambitions and make this happen - that is, if they have any aspirations of being invited back.

For the record, I oppose the death penalty. But without the immediate initiative of concerned citizens and conscientious and accountable politicians in regard to Birmingham area transit, I'm afraid this recent legislative debacle might spell a death sentence for the future of our great city.

Carol Reynolds is a member of the Birmingham City Council.



NATIONAL DO NOT CALL REGISTRY ENDS UNSOLICITED CALLS
By Latoiya Stout

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently amended the Telemarketing Sales Rule, which now includes the National Do Not Call Registry. The Registry makes it easier for consumers to control the number of telemarketing calls they receive. All registered numbers will stay in the registry for 5 years, after which, you must re-register. The FTC stated that Americans have registered over 13 million phone numbers for the "do not call" list since registration began on June 27. Out of 166 million residential phone numbers in the United States, the FTC expects Americans to register up to 60 million phone numbers during the first year.

Consumers may register for free in two ways: online or by phone. Beginning October 1, 2003, registering before August 31 will prohibit telemarketers from calling numbers on the list. All unsolicited calls are not covered by the do-not-call list. Businesses will be allowed to call customers with whom they have an established relationship with for at least 18 months. Also, political groups, charity organizations, and survey firms can still call registered numbers.

Telemarketers must transmit their telephone numbers and name (if possible) to your caller ID service, beginning January 29, 2004. This will help to protect your privacy, increase telemarketer's accountability, and help in law enforcement efforts.

While many people may view this as an excellent way to finally end unwanted phone calls, the telemarketing industry, which generates $211 billion in annual sales, is extremely worried about the new do-not-call list. According to Tim Searcy, spokesman for The American Teleservices Association, "Approximately 30 percent of our industry evaporates overnight. In an industry that employs 6.5 million people, one-third of the work force faces the possibility of unemployment." The majority of people employed as telemarketers are physically handicapped, single moms, college students, and the elderly, which according to Searcy are "hard-to-employ people". This definitely could increase the United States' rising unemployment rate, which at 6.4 percent reached a nine-year high during the month of June.

Resources: www. donotcall.gov
www.prnewswire.com



CONGRESSMAN DAVIS APPLAUDS JUSTICE O'CONNOR, SUPREME COURT IN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION DECISION
By Congressman Artur Davis, (AL-7)

By an excruciatingly narrow margin of 5-4, the Supreme Court has left affirmative action alive to fight another day. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's majority opinion in Grutter v. Bollinger leaves in place a 26-year-old precedent to the effect that graduate schools and universities may consider race as one factor in the admissions process.

It is remarkable in one sense that the Court's conclusion was so close and so hard fought. For the last 30 years, public safety institutions, schools of higher learning, corporations, and the United States Military have actively sought to diversify by giving a marginal bump to minority applicants. Affirmative action at the federal contracting level is a conservative Republican creation launched during Nixon's first presidential administration. As further proof of the foundation behind affirmative action, it should not go unnoticed that numerous Fortune 500 corporations filed legal briefs in support of the Michigan admissions plan.

On the other hand, Justice O'Connor's reasoned analysis is a profile in courage. The conservative movement has beaten up race preferences for the last two decades and the public relations skills of the right have discredited the bipartisan base behind affirmative action. The judicial trend had been a scary one before O'Connor stepped in the breach: various appeals courts have nibbled away at the Michigan case's ancestor, Regents of University of California v. Bakke.

Whether a celebration or a quick breath of relief is in order, the bulk of the holding embraced in Grutter v. Bollinger is a good and wise thing. Two points stand above the rest: the first is that public policy has failed to arrest the academic gap between minority and majority performance on standardized tests. A race-blind admissions system is neutral in theory and punishing in fact for the black and brown products of inequitably funded and unequally sponsored public school systems. Look at the University of Texas and the University of California Law Schools, where the ranks of black students collapsed after adverse court rulings made them abandon their racial preferences (a positive footnote: interpreting Grutter as an invitation, University of Texas has just announced the revival of its affirmative action programs).

The second undisputed premise is this: institutions of higher learning are tickets to status and income in this anonymous world of ours. The fewer the number of minorities at the Michigans, Alabamas, and Harvards, the wider the ranks of success will become. I frown at that outcome not out of racial solidarity, but out of an appreciation that the African American community is already dispirited at its lack of inclusion in the power leagues in America. Rising and more pronounced discontent is the sure product of the minority success pool draining even further.

I am relatively confident that affirmative action, properly explained and rightly understood, will command broad public support. Frankly, I would not care if it didn't - if the Supreme Court cannot rescue us from the most short-sighted of our instincts, then who can? Bravo for Sandra Day O'Connor who got the equal protection clause badly wrong in Bush v. Gore, but who got it just right in Grutter v. Bollinger.



NEW REPORT SHOWS SURGE IN BUYING POWER OF MINORITIES
By William Parker

In February, Elements Communication Inc. commissioned a research study, Buying Power of African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans, and Native Americans. The study which indicated the buying power of minorities surged to a record high in 2002 and many companies are failing to take advantage it.

According to the study in Alabama:

· The African American buying power hit a record $16.1 billion in 2002 compared to $8.1 billion in 1990, and is projected to hit $20.3 billion in 2007. The African American buying power is ranked 16th in United States.

· The Hispanic population has doubled over the past decade. The Hispanic buying power surged from $293 million in 1990 to $1.7 billion in 2002. This growth rate was three times the national average.

· The Asian American consumer market is ranked 23rd in U.S. The Asian American buying power surged from $290 million to $742 million in 2002.

· The Native American population, though small, also flourished in the last decade. Buying power increased from $170 million in 1990 to $375 million in 1992.

Overall minority buying power in Alabama was $79.3 billion in 2002, two-thirds higher than $48.4 billion in 1990.

The study indicated the amount of money minorities spend on various goods and services. For example, African Americans on average have lower incomes, but tend to spend more per household on telephones, electricity, children's apparel, and footwear than Caucasians. According to Elements CEO Chris Bazuaye, "Telecommunications companies, fashion manufactures and retailers can stand to gain considerably from an intense focus on African Americans. This report could help various industries see the value of targeting their marketing effort toward minorities."

The study showed buying power for African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans in Alabama, but also list their disposable income in each of the state's 67 counties and leading metropolitan areas including Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile and Huntsville. For example, African Americans in Birmingham had buying power of $4.8 billion last year, up from $2.3 billion in 1990 and that total is projected to reach $6.1 billion in 2007. Spending power in Birmingham for African Americans and other minorities is also growing faster than the overall average.

Officials with Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce's African American Business Council said the study by Elements shows that Caucasian owned companies can no longer afford to ignore the financial growth of African Americans, Hispanics, and other minorities.

According to Bazuaye, "The Caucasian consumer market is becoming saturated and has less room for growth. African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans and Native Americans are largely untapped markets that provide substantial opportunities for companies that know how to properly market to them. "

The goal of the new report is to help business recognize the value of African Americans, Hispanics, and other minorities as consumers.

If more Caucasian-owned companies target African American consumers, African American businesses stand to lose a large segment of their consumer base. To combat this potential loss, African American businesses must take steps to sharpen and refocus its own marketing efforts.



THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT: ENSURING THAT ALL CHILDREN RECEIVE A HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION
By Latoiya Stout

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, which President Bush considers to be the "cornerstone" of his administration, is designed to improve education quality and student achievement. Recently, Bush was noted as saying, "Under the No Child Left Behind Act, every student in this country will be held to high standards, and every school will be held accountable for results. Teachers will get the training they need to help their students achieve. Parents will get the information and choices they need to make sure their children are learning. And together we will bring the promise of quality education to every child in America."

. No Child Left Behind requires each state to construct its own unique plan with standards designed to increase achievement in reading, math, and science. Bush stated, "We believe education is a national priority and a local responsibility…" As of June 10, 2003, all states, along with, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia were in compliance with the No Child Left Behind Act. These plans include annual tests for grades three through eight to measure the students' progress. Also, accountability systems gather detailed, objective data through tests, which are used to identify strengths and weaknesses in the system. Once teachers recognize what their students can and cannot do, they will be able to help them to improve. Also, parents will be given report cards on how well their children are progressing and what areas they may need extra help in. This will help to provide "guideposts for academic achievement."

With only one-third of fourth-graders reading at a proficient level, America definitely has a literacy crisis. Reading is the foundation to learning, and without it, chances of graduating high school and living a life of success are grim. The No Child Left Behind Act ensures that students are systematically taught five fundamental components of reading, by providing grants for state and local school districts. These five components include: Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, Vocabulary, and Comprehension.

The most important key to a child's success in school is having well-educated and well-prepared teachers. Unfortunately, millions of children do not have teachers that are well-prepared in the subjects that they may teach. According to a report by the No Child Left Behind Act: "Only 41 percent of eighth-grade math teachers majored in math in college; One-fifth of all public school students in grades seven through twelve were teachers who did not have at least a minor in English literature or communications; In history and physical science, more than half of America's students are being taught by a teacher who has never studied the subject in any concentrated way-that's more than four million students in physics, chemistry and history classes being taught by teachers lacking preparation for teaching their subjects." To ensure teacher quality, No Child Left Behind provides alternative ways of earning a teaching degree, so that skilled professionals can become teachers at a faster pace. Also merit pay authorization allows states to reward teachers that are doing good jobs ensuring their students progress. Bush's plan also encourages recruiting men and women in the military to become teachers, many with math and science experience, which are critical areas of concern.

While schools have been desegregated for many years, there is still an achievement gap in academic performance between different ethnic groups. On the 2000 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which is a national test that measures state academic progress, 12 percent of African-American fourth-graders and 16 percent of Hispanic fourth-graders, scored at or above proficient in reading assessment, compared to 40 percent of their Caucasian peers. Also, in math, only five-percent of African-American fourth-graders and 10 percent of Hispanic fourth-graders scored as high achievers, while 35 percent of Caucasian fourth-graders scored as such. Hispanic students have the highest dropout rates of any ethnic group in the country and only 13 percent get a college education. So what will the No Child Left Behind Act do to ensure that no child, whether, black, white, Hispanic, or any other race or ethnicity are not left behind? President Bush wants each school to examine academic achievement in grades three through eight based on 4 categories, which include: race, ethnicity, economic background, and disabilities. This will ensure that "Every child in America will learn, and no child will be left behind," as Bush recently stated. The Department of Education is working with the National Council of Negro Women, Black Alliance for Educational Options, the Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, and other organizations to partner with the communities to not just narrow the achievement gap, but to eliminate it.



A TRIBUTE TO MAYOR MAYNARD JACKSON
By Christopher Bazuaye

It may be fitting to call him the "Father of modern-day Atlanta." Born March 23, 1938, Maynard Holbrook Jackson, Jr. lived a life befitting a father. A prominent political figure, businessman, visionary and father, the Honorable Maynard Jackson epitomized the very essence of leadership.

At the tender age of 14, Jackson was admitted to Morehouse College and graduated with a degree in political science. A visionary leader and a strong advocate for black businesses, Maynard Jackson became Atlanta's first black mayor in 1973. He was a pioneer and groundbreaker who helped usher in a new generation of African-American leaders, businesses, and socio-economic political generation.

Maynard Jackson's leadership transformed Atlanta, Georgia from an "also-ran" to a world-class city. The bustling metropolis that we see today would not be if Jackson did not take the leadership and bold steps. He compelled the business community in Atlanta to give minority businesses a chance.

Jackson led a series of initiatives that catalyzed the growth of "ATL". To wit:
-The International Airport
-The 1996 Summer Olympics
-The infrastructural developments
-The ascendant of corporate locations/ relocation
-The diversification of Atlanta's corporate wealth
-The development of Atlanta's A-A economic and political mid-upper class.

Jackson was probably doing what he thought was right, but little did he know that he would be making life better for many and for generations to come. A shining example of the ripple effect of determination, the result of Jackson's leadership span socio-economic boundaries and reaches far into the outer core of our geographic communities.

One has to wonder what the final figure will be if an economist quantifies the capital effect of Jackson's leadership initiatives.

Maynard Holbrook Jackson, Jr. we can pay you no better tribute than to salute the spirit with which you led your life. Your legacy will be immortal.

Who says HBCU's can not develop world-class leaders?