As part of ELC’s continued work to create positive school climates, a second conversation with Dr. Morris will be hosted in Philadelphia on April 4th. The roundtable will focus on the challenges Black girls face in public schools – from inappropriate pushout policies and practices to barriers to academic achievement.
racial discrimination
Speaker explores mindset of girls involved in fight at University Preparatory HS
Mar. 9, 2016 – TribLive – by Elizabeth Behrman
Before her trip to Pittsburgh, Monique Morris said she read about last week’s brawl involving 30 female students at University Preparatory High School. Continue reading
Beyond the viral video: Inside educators’ emotional debate about ‘no excuses’ discipline
Mar. 8, 2015 – Elizabeth Green, Chalkbeat.orgChalkbeat CEO Elizabeth Green examines the case for and against ‘no excuses’ discipline, drawing on reporting from her book ‘Building a Better Teacher’ Continue reading
Restoring the Promise to Black Girls: A Conversation in Pittsburgh with Monique W. Morris
Save the date! March 9, 2016: 6–8 p.m.
Monique W. Morris, cofounder of the National Black Women’s Justice Institute and author of Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools, will discuss her new book, and the challenges Black girls face in public schools – from inappropriate pushout policies and practices, to barriers to academic achievement. Click through for more information.
We must address disparities in school discipline and decrease suspensions
March 4, 2015 – Letter to the Editor, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – The Feb. 25 editorial “A Place to Learn: Student Suspension Has a Role in Keeping Order” disregards decades of well-established research and best practices to promote regressive school policies.
ELC Applauds Pittsburgh Public Schools’ New Code of Student Conduct
Aug. 5, 2014 – The Education Law Center applauds Pittsburgh Public Schools’ new code of student conduct, which reduces harmful zero-tolerance policies that disproportionally impact students of color and students with disabilities, while emphasizing greater protections and supports for English language learners, LGBTQ students, and parenting students. The PPS School Board adopted the changes at its meeting on Aug. 4, 2014.
The new policy will go into effect when school resumes later in the month.
Racial disparities in school discipline: A Radio Times discussion
March 31, 2014 – WHYY, Radio Times – New information released by the Department of Education shed more light on a disturbing difference when it comes to school discipline — minority students are suspended at a much higher rate than white students. The same applies to expulsions and harsher punishments and the problem is particularly acute in Pennsylvania. With more research to show that zero tolerance policies are ineffective, some educators are rethinking the whys and hows of school discipline.
WHYY’s Radio Times talks to Harold Jordan of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, Deborah Klehr of the Education Law Center, and University of Pennsylvania education professor Matthew Steinberg about the issues around school suspensions, expulsions and even arrests, particularly when it comes to minority students.
Action Item: Contacting Dept. of Justice about alternative ed discrimination
Based on the Education Law Center’s legal complaintthe U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation into discriminatory placement of students in Pennsylvania’s Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth programs.
Continue reading
Feds to Investigate Discrimination in PA’s Alternative Ed Programs
February 21, 2014 – Based on the Education Law Center’s legal complaint, the U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation into discriminatory placement of students in Pennsylvania’s Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth programs.
Op/Ed: Lessons from Coatesville
October 22, 2013 – by Solomon Hunter and Rhonda Brownstein –
When one or two individuals in an organization blatantly act out in discriminatory ways, it’s easy to imagine that dealing with those individuals, primarily by removing them from the organization, solves the problem. Continue reading
Law Center to Feds: Investigate Discrimination in PA’s Alternative Ed Programs
August 7, 2013 – The Education Law Center today filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice seeking an investigation into discriminatory placement of students in Pennsylvania’s Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth programs. Continue reading