School to Prison Pipeline in DISD

Statewide Study on School Discipline in Texas to be Presented at Community Gathering:
Round Table to Be Geared toward Solutions to School to Prison Pipeline in DISD

A broad coalition of community organizations, leaders and parents and grandparents will gather to hear the results of an important recent study on the impact of Texas school discipline and student success. State Board of Education Member Mavis Knight and DISD Trustees Bernadette Nutall and Mike Morath and  Carla Ranger and State Representatives Helen Giddings and Roberto Alonzo will also be in attendance. The meeting will take place on October 3 at 6:30 p.m. at Friendship West Baptist Church, 2020 W. Wheatland Rd., Dallas.

The study, Breaking Schools' Rules: A Statewide Study of How School Discipline Relates to Students' Success and Juvenile Justice Involvement, conducted by the Council of State Governments and Texas A&M's Public Policy Institute, found that when students are suspended or expelled, the likelihood that they will repeat a grade, not graduate, and/or become involved in the juvenile justice system increases significantly. It also found that African American students and children with particular educational disabilities who qualify for special education were suspended and expelled at especially high rates.

"Breaking Schools' Rules will not be another report that just collects dust on the shelf," stated Lakashia Wallace, DISD parent and TOP leader. "We are arming parents with the outrageous findings to use in winning a real solution to the school-to-prison pipeline in DISD. Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) has a proven track record of cutting disciplinary referrals by 50% in other districts, and we as parents will not stop until our kids in DISD have the chance to benefit from PBIS as well."

Attendees will hear testimony from parents whose children have been caught in the school-to-prison pipeline, and may participate in discussions about solutions with key local elected leaders, clergy and community.

This community meeting is sponsored by Texas Organizing Project (TOP), Friendship West Baptist Church, Texas Appleseed, the Institute for Urban Policy Research at UTD, the Dallas Peace Center, St. Luke "Community" United Methodist Church, Paradise Missionary Baptist Church and the DFW African-American Pastors Coalition.

Those wishing to attend are asked to RSVP to 214-455-9115 or abrim@organizetexas.org.

What: Community Meeting: Discipline at School: Student Success and Juveniile  Justice System 

When: October 3, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Friendship West Baptist Church, 2020 W. Wheatland Rd., Dallas.

SHORT VERSION

Hear the results of an important recent study, Breaking Schools' Rules: A Statewide Study of How School Discipline Relates to Students' Success and Justice Involvement, conducted by the Council of State Governments and Texas A&M's Public Policy Institute. DISD Trustees Bernadette Nutall and Mike Morath and State Representatives Helen Giddings and Roberto Alonzo will be in attendance, along with a broad coalition of concerned community leaders. The meeting will be October 3 at 6:30 p.m. at Friendship West Baptist Church, 2020 W. Wheatland Rd., Dallas. Please RSVP to 214-455-9115 or abrim@organizetexas.org.