ACLU of GA
ACLU October 5, 2010
100 Stories in 100 Days

 
 
child and officer in school settingDISMANTLING THE
SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE
SYMPOSIUM SERIES
October 9, 2010 9:00am - 4pm
at
Big Bethel AME Church
220 Auburn Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30303
Complimentary Continental Breakfast & Lunch
Provided By:
Big Bethel AME Church 

Complimentary Continental Breakfast & Lunch
Provided By: Big Bethel AME Church
Children are far more likely to be arrested at school than they were a generation ago.
 
The vast majority of these arrests are for nonviolent offenses such as "disruptive conduct" or
"disturbance of the peace. Five year olds are being led out of classrooms in handcuffs for
acting out or throwing temper tantrums. Students have been arrested for throwing an eraser at a teacher, breaking a pencil, and having rap lyrics in a locker. These children do
not belong in jail.
 
The "School To Prison Pipeline" (STPP) refers to a disturbing national trend in which students are
funneled out of public schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Most of these kids
are children of color, and many have learning disabilities or histories of poverty, abuse or neglect, and would benefit from additional educational and counseling services. Instead they
are punished and isolated.
 
Why is this happening? "Zero-tolerance" polices criminalize minor infractions of school rules and
high-stakes testing programs encourage educators to push out low-performing students to improve
their schools'overall test scores. Students of color are especially vulnerable to the discriminatory
application of discipline and push-out trends.
 
Statewide STPP Symposium Series

Through a series of five regional forums, based upon Congressional Districts, a strategic plan for
statewide action to dismantle the School To Prison Pipeline (STPP) will be developed. Stories
obtained through this symposium from stakeholders; students, parents, education community, legal community, elected representatives, civic community, and faith community groups will form the foundation of the plan that will improve the educational environment for Georgia's students. The statewide plan will include community-based solutions as well as proven local and national strategies for
change.

Georgia has taken important steps to change the climate in our public schools. More work is needed
and will require students, parent, community members and organizations coming together for a better Georgia! We need to hear from you.  Share the successes and challenges of your child and your school system. Join us at the regional STPP forum for your Congressional
District.

Regional Metro Atlanta STPP Forum
Congressional Districts 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
9, 10, 11, 13
 
The STPP forum seeks to engage stakeholders by:
 
�� Increasing public awareness of the School to Prison Pipeline (STPP).
�� Providing prevention/intervention measures that divert children from the STPP and steer them     towards gaining an education.
�� Equip parents and community to help children enmeshed in the STPP.
�� Ensuring Accountability for Elected Officials
through Engagement
 
Forum Agenda Highlights
 
 Opening Speaker - Sharon N. Hill, Executive Director of Georgia Appleseed
� Specific Local Community Demographics/Statistics
� How to Navigate the School System
� How to be Your Child's Advocate
� Organizing Your Community
� Tell Us Your Story - An Education Story Collection Project
� National Week of Action on School Pushout
Local Event
 
Forum Registration
Space is Limited!!!
 
Registration is $10 and includes materials.
Register online at
http://www.acluga.org/sttpsymposium.html
For more information contact:
[email protected]
 
If you cannot attend a local forum, but would like to share your story, send an email to [email protected].
 
NAACP Logoacet logoInterfaith Children's Movement Logo
 
Gwinnett County STOPP logoACLU Foundation of Georgia logo small version
Mission
The purpose of this Association shall be to advance the cause of civil liberties in Georgia,
with emphasis on the rights of free speech, free press, free assembly, freedom of religion,
due process of law and to take all legitimate action in the furtherance of such purposes without political partisanship.
 
 
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