The New York Chapter of the Dignity in Schools Campaign (DSC-NY) is a citywide coalition of students, parents, advocates, educators and lawyers calling for positive, school-wide approaches to discipline that improve the school environment, reduce conflict, and increase learning. We work to reduce suspensions and other harsh policies that violate students’ human right to education and to be treated with dignity.  Students, parents and educators have a right to participate in decision-making related to discipline policies in schools.

Read our Platform for Positive School Discipline in New York City Schools

Read our Fact Sheet on NYC School Discipline Statistics

Sign-on to our Call to Action

Watch recent videos of DSC-NY events:

- October 4, 2011 Rally and Street Theatre at City Hall

- June 21, 2011 Press Conference and Testimony at DOE Discipline Code Hearing

Our Members:

Advocates for Children of New York, Center for Community Alternatives, Children’s Defense Fund-New York, Coalition for Asian American Children and Families, Coalition for Gender Equity in Schools, Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM), Future of Tomorrow, Make the Road New York, Mass Transit Street Theater, National Economic and Social Rights Initiative (NESRI), New Settlement Apartments Parent Action Committee, New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), Pumphouse Projects, Sistas and Brothas United, Teachers Unite, Urban Youth Collaborative (UYC), Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice, Youth on the Move, and Youth Represent.

Our Work:

DSC-NY develops policy recommendations and organizes testimony before the Department of Education to change New York City's school discipline policies, and holds workshops and teach-ins to engage students, parents and educators in our work.

To get involved contact Shoshi Chowdhury, DSC-NY Coordinator at shoshi@nesri.org or 212-253-1710 ext. 314.

DSC-NY Blog:

- 2/07/2012: States Should Follow Maryland and Take Action to Curb Suspensions in Schools

- 10/13/2011: They Say Push Out, We Say Push Back!

- 8/15/2011: Girls for Gender Equity Helps Educators Reflect on Sexual Harassment in Schools

- 8/11/2011: Teachers Unite and DSC-NY Present Workshop on Fairness Committees

- 7/12/2011: DSC-NY Action at June 21 Hearing on School Discipline Code

Latest News:

-12/01/2011: Gotham Schools: Students, Advocates Rail Against Suspension Trends at Hearing

-11/03/2011 : Gotham Schools: NYPD is Urged to Be Like the DOE and Release School Safety Data

-11/02/2011 : Inside Schools: Black Special Ed Kids Suspended Most

-11/02/2011 : New York Daily News: New York City Disabled Dtudents More Likely to Be Suspended from Public Schools

-11/01/2011 : New York Post: Little horrors: City kindergarteners being suspended for misbehaving

-10/13/2011 : Queens Chronicle: Students Urge Change in School Discipline

- 9/27/2011 : Gotham Gazette: New York's Pushout Crisis: Why Students Don't Graduate

- 6/23/2011: The Amsterdam News: Parents Practice Punitive Discipline in New York City Schools

- 6/23/2011: Queens Chronicle: Protesting School Suspension Rates

DSC-NY Press Releases:

- 11/04/2011:  Student Safety Act Data Reinforce Need for Positive Alternatives to Suspensions

- 9/09/2011:  DSC-NY: High Suspension Rates Will Continue Unless Bloomberg and Walcott Take Action

DSC-NY Photo Gallery:

- 10/04/2011: National Week of Action 2011

- 6/21/2011: DOE Hearing on School Discipline Code