March 2019 Newsletter - The Center for Learner Equity

March 21, 2019

Partnership and collaboration The Center’s critical to achieving our mission. We hope that our newsletter helps inform and empower you to take action in your area. Email info@centerforlearnerequity.org to discuss how to improve special education in charter schools near you.

Victory for the disability advocacy community. The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) prevailed in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education for Secretary DeVos’ decision to delay implementation of the Equity in IDEA regulations. These regulations – a critical step in ensuring students are receiving the appropriate services and disrupting disproportionality – will now immediately go into effect. Read The Center’s blog post and COPAA’s press release for further information.

Last week, the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) issued a new report – “Reinvigorating the Pipeline: Insights into Proposed and Approved Charter Schools” – on its review of nearly 3,000 charter school applications submitted to authorizers in 20 states over the last several years. This analysis just scratches the surface of what we can learn from the data identified. Read The Center’s blog post and NACSA’s full report for further information.

It’s time to prohibit seclusion and limit use of restraints in schools. Data shows that historically marginalized students are disproportionately impacted; students with disabilities comprise 12% of all students enrolled yet represent 71% of all students restrained and 66% of all students secluded. In a letter to the House Education and Labor Subcommittee, The Center urges the re-introduction and passage of KASSA in order to make schools safe learning environments for all students.

Secretary DeVos recently pitched a $5 billion federal tax credit that would fund scholarships to private schools and other educational programs. The Center issued a statement in response, reminding lawmakers that all school choice options must embrace the responsibilities that accompany public dollars, including those grounded in our nation’s commitment to civil rights. The Center’s Equity Coalition outlines the standard by which policies should be assessed with the Principles of Equitable Schools.

14 million students are enrolled in schools with police but no counselor, nurse, psychologist, or social worker. Data shows that historically marginalized students are disproportionately arrested and physically harmed by school police; students with disabilities are about three times more likely to be arrested than students without disabilities. It’s time to shift attention and resources away from criminalization towards increasing school-based mental health providers, which research proves can result in positive outcomes for students and improve school safety generally.

Please join The Center in celebrating Women’s History Month.
Checkout our Twitter to learn about a few women who are making important contributions to our field, including: Russlynn Ali, Managing Director of Emerson Collective’s Education Fund; Alice Wong, Founder and Director of the Disability Visibility Project; Susan Henderson, Executive Director of the Disability Rights Education Defense Fund, and; Judith Heumann, internationally recognized disability and civil rights activist.