| NEWS & UPDATES |
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Greetings DSC Members and Allies!
NATIONAL UPDATES DSC Members Present at Rethink Discipline Convening in Atlanta
From February 17-18, DSC members from Gwinnett SToPP, the Youth Organizing Institute (YOI) and the National Economic and Social Rights Initiative (NESRI) presented at a Regional Rethink Discipline Convening in Atlanta hosted by the U.S. Department of Education. Teams of district and school leaders from 12 school districts in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee came together to develop concrete steps to advance school discipline reform in their communities. Marlyn Tillman of Gwinnett SToPP and Markyona Patrick of YOI presented on a panel where they discussed the importance of youth and parent leadership in transforming school discipline. Liz Sullivan-Yuknis of NESRI facilitated two workshops on the DSC Model Code on Education and Dignity. You can find resources from the convening here.
DSC Continues to Push for Positive School Discipline in ESSA Implementation
Last week, the U.S. House Education and the Workforce Committee held a hearing to discuss the implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). DSC submitted a statement to the committee outlining our recommendations for implementation, including for the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to issue regulations and guidance for states choosing school climate and safety as an accountability indicator of overall school quality and student success. DSC also issued a statement regarding the hearing held by the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on the nomination of acting Secretary of Education Dr. John King. In our statement we urge Dr. King, if confirmed, to champion school discipline reform and address the role of police in schools and how police presence contributes to the School-to-Prison Pipeline. You can read our full statement here. You can also find several resources for local organizations regarding ESSA implementation on our website.
This week, a video surfaced of a Baltimore school police officer hitting and kicking a youth at REACH Partnership School. Similar to what was seen last year in Columbia, SC at Spring Valley High, we see another youth of color being assaulted by a police officer in school. Once again, we reaffirm that School Resource Officers, municipal police, probation officers and other law enforcement personnel should not handle student safety or school discipline issues in and around schools. In 2013, DSC members released the Statement by Youth of Color on School Safety and Gun Violence in America that lays out recommendations for creating safe school climates. In Baltimore, as of the latest reports, the municipal police force is leading a criminal investigation into the assault. The school police chief, Marshall Goodwin, and the two unidentified officers in the video have been placed on administrative leave.
MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS
Last month, DSC member Toledoans United for Social Action (TUSA) hosted an event titled Colorful Conversations, where they convened 200 community members and public officials to hear youth speak about their concerns with school discipline policies and other community issues. The event uplifted the voices of 5-8 year olds who discussed their views on school safety and 13-17 year olds who shared their views on race, education, violence, school discipline and cultural sensitivity. Toledo’s Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson, Chief of Police George Kral and School Superintendent Dr. Romules Durant attended the event, which allowed youth to speak directly to officials about the changes they want to see in their community, including fewer punitive discipline policies in schools. Dayton Parents Stand Up Against Police at School Sporting Events
This month, DSC member Racial Justice NOW! (RJN) and community leaders in Dayton, Ohio are demanding a change concerning the presence of police officers at Dayton Public Schools (DPS) sporting events. RJN members and allies spoke at the DPS school board meeting in February to voice concerns about a district policy that stations police officers at school sporting events due to recent fights. Over 20 community members attended the school board meeting where their public speaking time was reduced from three minutes to one minute. Community members pushed back at the meeting and stated that they felt they were being silenced by the school board. The public outcry led to the school board calling a special meeting to be scheduled in March to discuss police presence at school sporting events. Here is a link to media coverage.
Girls for Gender Equity Youth Leaders Represent at NYC Young Women’s Initiative
In February, DSC member Girls for Gender Equity (GGE) and members of the Young Women’s Advisory Council for the Young Women’s Initiative attended New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark Vivirito’s State of the City Address. At the State of the City, Speaker Mark Vivirito announced a commitment of 10 million dollars for the Young Women’s Initiative (YWI), a citywide effort to support the needs of cis and trans young women of color. YWI will have a 10 million dollar match from philanthropy distributed over the course of two years. GGE has long called for an investment in young women of color and both GGE staff and youth organizers were a part of the creation of YWI. As the initiative moves into its second phase, GGE will continue to support the Young Women’s Advisory Council, a body made up of young women of color who are a part of YWI to ensure that young people have voice in the work of the initiative.
STAFF UPDATES
DSC Field Organizer Fernando Martinez held a campaign strategy session for the Parent Education Organizing Council (PEOC) in New Jersey. During the work session local leaders regrouped to assess their campaign work and to identify new tactics and action steps to hold Paterson Public Schools accountable. Fernando helped orient PEOC’s new organizer on the Solutions Not Suspensions Campaign and accompanied parent leaders in negotiations with school officials about implementing Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS). IN THE NEWS
Baltimore school police officer slaps, kicks, and curses at young black man on video
U.S. Department of Education Takes Action to Deliver Equity for Students with Disabilities
School board to consider role of police at events
Should high school punishments go on college applications?
LAUSD needs to reverse its neglect of black students
Criminal Justice Bill Tackles ‘School-To-Prison Pipeline’
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Member of DSC today!
Support Portland Parent Union, Sign their Petition!
Multi-City School Pushout Tour Visits Ohio
The Great Unequalizer: Community Analysis of Early Childhood Education Report
State Takeovers of Low-Performing Schools Report
American Bar Association Educational Civil Rights Accountability Project
More Conversation about Race, Not Less, Needed in Henrico County
The Dignity in Schools Campaign is a national coalition of youth, parents, advocates, community-based organizations, educators and policymakers working together to seek human rights-based solutions to the systemic problem of pushout in U.S. schools.
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DIGNITY IN SCHOOLS | 90 JOHN ST. STE 308, NEW YORK, NY 10038 | TEL: (212) 253-1710 Ext. 317 | FAX (212) 385-6124 | info@dignityinschools.org |
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