Resolution Activities

Beginning December 3, the Dignity in Schools Campaign and groups around the country, will distribute the National Resolution for Ending School Pushout to policy-makers, the media and the public to raise awareness of the pushout issue and advocate for solutions that protect students' human rights to education and dignity.

We encourage you to organize similar activities in your community.  Email resolution@dignityinschools.org so that we can share you work with others!

National

Thurs, Dec 3: National Release of Resolution

  • The DSC sent the Resolution to the U.S. Department of Education, Members of Congress and State Departments of Education across the country.  We encourage you to adapt our letters to share the Resolution with your own policy-makers:
    • Sample Cover Letter
    • DSC Letter to Secretary Arne Duncan
    • DSC Letter to State Departments of Education
    • DSC Letters to U.S. Senators and Representatives
  • The DSC launched the Voices from the DSC video series, featuring interviews with parents, teachers, youth and advocates that helped draft the DSC Resolution at the June 2009 DSC Conference in Chicago.

 

Radio and Blog Coverage: The Resolution release was featured on national and local radio programs and blogs.  Click here for a complete list.

 

California

Tues, Dec 1: Voices from the Frontlines, KPFK 90.7 Radio Program 
Listen to a recording featuring the Los Angeles Chapter of the Dignity in Schools Campaign discussing school pushout and alternatives to current punitive approaches to school discipline (including inappropriate law enforcement intervention).  You can access the show at KPFK.org. or www.thestrategycenter.org/radio

Tues, Dec 8: Public Comment Presentation at LAUSD board meeting
Julie Waterstone, Director of the Children’s Rights Clinic at Southwestern Law School, will present the DSC Resolution to the Los Angeles school board.

Mon-Thurs, Dec 14-17: Youth Justice Coalition (YJC) March for Respect
The Los Angeles Chapter of the DSC will work with the YJC to support their March for Respect march 50 miles to challenge L.A.’s and California’s juvenile justice policies that lead to the mass incarceration of young people.  Read the December 17 article about the march, LA Youth March for Respect - and Justice, featuring Rosa Hirji, Core Group Member of the DSC.

 

Georgia

Wed, Dec 9: WRFG Class Chronicles, Radio Free Georgia
Hosted by Joan Baptist, members of the DSC will talk about the Resolution on the show, Class Chronicles, which covers economic human rights campaigns by and for poor people locally, nationally and internationally. 

Fri, Dec 11: Presentation to Gwinnett County School Board
The Resolution was presented to the Gwinnett County School Board at their monthly meeting.  The Resolution was also shared with the Georgia State Board of Education and the state legislative Education Committee.

 

Illinois

Week of Dec 7: Distribution to State Legislators
Blocks Together sent letters to state legislators with a copy of the Resolution suggesting that lawmakers draft a resolution in their respective legislative bodies in support of the Resolution.

 

Louisiana

Tues, Dec 8: Presentation to New Orleans Children and Youth Planning Board Education Committee
Damekia Morgan, Member of the Planning Board and organizer at Families and Friends of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children (FFLIC), shared the resolution with the Board.

 

New York

Thurs, Dec 10: Presentation to New York City Department of Education
On International Human Rights Day, the NESRI and the NYC School Discipline Reform Campaign presented the Resolution at a meeting with Department of Education staff.

 

Pennsylvania

New CD and Video - Pushed Out: Students Create Music Addressing Drop Out Crisis
The Philadelphia Student Union (PSU) has signed onto the Resolution and recently released a CD entitled Pushed Out:  Students Create Music CD Addressing Drop Out Crisis.  Click here to view a video about the CD and listen to samples from the CD. 

Wed, Dec 9: Class Chronicles, Radio Free Georgia
Khalif Dobson of PSU spoke on the Class Chronicles program on Radio Free Georgia about pushout and human rights.