In January 2016, Gwinnett SToPP, along with Dignity in Schools Campaign (DSC) members Racial Justice Now! (Ohio), Citizens for a Better Greenville (Mississippi), ACLU of Pennsylvania, and our federal partner, NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund Inc, provided testimony to U.S. Department of Education (ED) on the implementation of school climate and discipline reforms. The Secretary of Education (Secretary) solicited advice and recommendations from interested parties prior to issuing regulations on programs under Title I of No Child Left Behind, now known as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Programs under Title I are designed to help disadvantaged children meet high academic standards. The Secretary invited comments concerning topics for which regulations may be helpful to assist states, school districts, and schools to implement the new law.

Gwinnett SToPP was one such organization which replied, saying that Title I programs should effectively address the needs of students who have been historically left behind, in the areas of funding, the peer review process for developing state plans, and data reporting. We encouraged ED to use funds for research-based alternatives to exclusionary discipline, family engagement programs that utilize community based organizations that parents trust, and include geographically diverse areas. Guidance is also essential for outreach and involvement of parents and other community stakeholders in the peer review process. Gwinnett SToPP strongly urged ED to issue regulations and provide technical assistance to school districts with documented high discipline disparities. School systems must be required to collect and report discipline data disaggregated by race and education program yearly.

Click here to read our written recommendation or here to view the full testimony.