Across the nation, youth, parents, community members, educators and advocates joined together and raised their voices last week to testify before school boards, hold town hall meetings and organize teach-ins to advocate for positive alternatives to zero tolerance discipline with the same unified goal: to push back for dignity and fairness in schools. The actions, taking place in 15 cities spanning both coasts, were part of the National Week of Action on School Pushout, organized by the Dignity in Schools Campaign (DSC). Here's just a taste of what happened...

…In Itta Bena, MS: Some 350 concerned citizens, educators and youth gathered on Mississippi Valley State University’s campus for the 6th “Conference of Mississippi Education Stakeholders on Dismantling the Achievement Gap,” hosted by the Mississippi Delta Catalyst Roundtable and Southern Echo.  Attendees came from 44 school districts and communities to discuss the dangers of consolidating some of the state’s under-funded and under-performing districts, particularly without focusing on remedies to treat the ills of the system. Such remedies include parental and student involvement in education policy-making and the statewide use of positive behavior interventions and supports. State Superintendent of Education Tom Burnham joined the conversation and answered thoughtful questions from youth, many of whom attend the schools labeled as “failing.” For them it was an emotional topic, with one student noting how important it was to know there were adults who were not afraid to stand up for her and her siblings.  

…In Chicago: Over 100 people attended the Roosevelt University Mansfield Institute for Social Change and Transformation Cradle to College Pipeline Summit on October 14-16.  Chicago academics and organizers presented on topics, including zero tolerance policies and the overrepresentation of youth with special needs in the criminal justice system.  Highlights from Friday included a session featuring Lynn Morton and Felipa Mena of POWER-PAC (Parents Organized to Win, Educate and Renew - Policy Action Council), whodiscussed their work establishing parent facilitated peace circles – an example of restorative practices -  in their children’s schools.  Saturday featured a standing room only panel of youth, including Lillian Matanmi of Rogers Park Young Women’s Action Team, Asucena Lopez of Chicago Freedom School, Chris Nguyen of Korean American Resource and Cultural Center, Benjamin of Gender Just and Brittany Cannon of Blocks Together.  They described their work fighting the School to Prison Pipeline, whether by implementing trainings in restorative justice for school resource officers or winning a restorative -based grievance process for youth targeted for harassment or discrimination in school. 

Also in Chicago, Blocks Together and Generation Y of Southwest Youth Collaborative both took creative approaches to ending the School to Prison Pipeline.  On October 11, Blocks Together Youth Council placed Chicago Public Schools on trial for refusing access to all students, and Generation Y made October 16 a day of workshops and collective art focused on school pushout.

During the Week of Action, youth and parents across the country contributed testimonies about school pushout and harsh discipline to DSC’s on-line Pushout Story Bank. Listen to their stories and share with others. We must continue to pushback against school pushout and advocate for dignity and fairness in school for all children!