#Break the School to Prison Pipeline
ESJ’s Contributions and Call for Involvement
On November 13th, 2016 ESJ joined with hundreds of educators, parents, and community members to publicly commit to Breaking the School-to-Prison-Pipeline (BTP). ESJ was a proud co-sponsor of the Regional Assembly held at Maplewood Richmond Heights High School. At this Assembly, district administrators publicly announced their level of commitment to ending out of school suspensions for children in grades Kindergarten-3rd grade.
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At the Regional Assembly, a statement was read about ESJ’s commitment to #BTP:
Educators for Social Justice commits to continuing to educate teachers, parents, and community members about how to interrupt institutionalized racism as it is manifested through the school-to-prison-pipeline. We will partner will other organizations to develop and support socially justice, equitable and sustainable practices in schools and communities. |
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Metropolitan Congregations United has been a leader in this initiative. This initiative arises from the Ferguson Report that called for an end to zero tolerance discipline policies and the elimination of the school-to-prison-pipeline. Each school district in the metropolitan St. Louis area has committed to a “tier” of intervention. The lowest tier involves investigating the suspension gap and brainstorming how to reduce it. The second tier involves recommending policy changes to eliminate out of school suspensions for K-3rd graders in the next year. The third tier involves the elimination of out-of-school-suspensions through policy changes this academic year.
ESJ continues to work in coalition with Metropolitan Congregations United, WeCan, Forward through Ferguson, Focus St. Louis, Ready by 21 and others, to Break the School to Prison Pipeline. Members of ESJ attend monthly organizational meetings and report back to the Board.
Would you like to attend monthly #BTP meetings as an ESJ representative? If so, send us a message!
ESJ continues to work in coalition with Metropolitan Congregations United, WeCan, Forward through Ferguson, Focus St. Louis, Ready by 21 and others, to Break the School to Prison Pipeline. Members of ESJ attend monthly organizational meetings and report back to the Board.
Would you like to attend monthly #BTP meetings as an ESJ representative? If so, send us a message!
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ESJ developed and distributed the syllabus to the right that is meant to be used as a resource for groups of educators who want to end the disproportionate tracking of Black and Brown children and youth out of classrooms.
Can you engage with or distribute this syllabus to educators? Download the Breaking the School-to-Prison Pipeline Syllabus here or view it to the right. ESJ developed a list of children’s books that focus on restorative justice that can be used with children and youth in classrooms. Might you use this text set and tell us how it worked? If so, send us a message about it! |
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Can you help us circulate this statement and put positive pressure on school districts to commit to educational practices that promote equity, diversity, and inclusion?
Download the Position Statement in support of Restorative Justice here or view it to the right. |
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ESJ’s Call for Grants is focused on promising practices that interrupt the ‘pipeline’ in classrooms, schools, districts, or communities. Please consider applying for the ESJ grant. See the Grant Application Form below. Click here to learn more about the Grant!
