VALDOSTA — The Tabernacle COGIC Church is looking to raise educational awareness among area parents and youth, as it hosts an education update for the community.

As each school year brings greater academic expectancy amid a rising performance standard pushed by the No Child Left Behind Act, Tabernacle has invited several community educators to hold an education update forum, Tuesday, July 17, to help area students stay ahead of the achievement bar.

“We first started looking at holding this forum last month as an opportunity to connect parents with education experts from our schools, and inform them of all the changes in education, because a lot of times, we’re out of the loop,” said Elder Alonzo Miller, Tabernacle associate minister.

“When I brought it up in conversation to Superintendent Allen while chatting about CRCT scores, he mentioned that Principal (Brett) Stanton would love to come out, as well as others, and everyone we contacted was happy to take part. We expanded it from just updating changes to the high school, to looking at other updates, such as testing, what these test mean, and things parents can do to improve their children’s test scores.”

Attending the forum will be Valdosta High School Principal Brett Stanton, Dr. Cherly Copeland, VCS curriculum director of testing and social studies, and Deborah May, compliance support coordinator and transition specialist for special education at VHS and Southeast Elementary. Each of the presenters will cover topics and answer questions relating various issues, including: graduation requirements, college and technical career tracking, ITBS, CRCT and Georgia Writing Assessments, and insight into the special education program and resources available to parents.

“We know through past standardized test results that students with disabilities are having problems, but we also know there is often a misunderstanding of the special education program all together,” said Miller. “We want to make sure that parents understand what is going on, even with the special education program, and Mrs. May is the person to go to with any concerns in that area, as well as finding services and resources for students with various needs.”

Having several educators in its membership who have worked in past years to help students through tutoring, Tabernacle hopes to continue building the community while furthering its partnership with local schools.

“I think the school should tap into the church because the church is a valuable community resource. We provide a lot of free services to students, and if not our church, other churches,” said Miller. “Support doesn’t have to be based on religion, but for the purpose of enriching education and our youth. Most people do attend church services throughout the city, so churches are the source of great information flow, and if people need to get info to parents, it’s a great information tool.”

The Education Update 2007 will be held Tuesday, July 17, at Tabernacle COGIC, located at 501 Holiday St. The forum will begin at 6:30 p.m., and refreshments will be served. Anyone in need of transportation should call Elder Alonzo Miller at 561-4508 or 241-7757.