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Proclamation recognizing the Be There! School Attendance Matters Conference sponsored by the United Way of Allegheny County, the University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development and America's Promise Alliance and naming Friday, March 6, 2015 "Be There Day" in Allegheny County.
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WHEREAS, children who are chronically absent from school preform worse and are at a higher risk of dropping out than children who regularly attend school; and
WHEREAS, the United Way of Allegheny County is determined to reduce this problem through their adoption of the "Be There" campaign, which encourages peers and adults to 'be there' for kids and to encourage children to stay in school; and
WHEREAS, the "Be There" campaign is a nation-wide multimedia and awareness campaign dedicated to and focused on getting parents and community members more involved in children's education in order to help increase and maintain school attendance rates; and
WHEREAS, on Friday, March 6, 2015 at the University of Pittsburgh, the United Way of Allegheny County, the University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development and the Be There Campaign partners will host the 2nd Annual "Be There! School Attendance Matters Conference" featuring keynote Speaker Dr. Heather Weiss of the Harvard Family Research Project; and
WHEREAS, this conference, one of over one hundred GradNation summits supported by America's Promise Alliance, will bring together over 200 educators, parents, and community leaders in an effort to improve student attendance across Allegheny County;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Allegheny County Council does hereby recognize the Be There! School Attendance Matters Conference and declare Friday, March 6, 2015 as "Be There Day" in Allegheny County.