In 2022, we were deeply disturbed to discover that 89% of suspended students were Black compared to a mere 4.8% of white students in Atlanta Public Schools (APS). This statistic is particularly alarming considering that Black students make up about 73% of the District's population. The disproportionate rate at which these young children are being suspended from school is not just unfair, it's unjust.

Out-of-school suspensions for elementary-aged children can have long-lasting negative effects on their academic performance, social development, and overall well-being. Research has shown that suspending young students does not improve their behavior but instead increases their likelihood of falling behind academically and dropping out later on.

Atlanta Public Schools should be a place where all children feel safe and supported in their learning journey. It's time we address this racial disparity head-on by banning out-of-school suspensions for K-5 students within APS. This policy change will ensure equitable treatment across all racial and subgroups and provide a more supportive environment conducive to learning.

Let us stand together against this educational inequity by signing this petition urging the APS Board of Education to ban out-of-school suspensions for K-5 students immediately!

To: Atlanta Board of Education Members

To ensure the equitable treatment of students across Atlanta Public Schools, the following must be applied and implemented across all schools.

Uniformed Discipline Practices
(1) The Administration will develop a comprehensive discipline matrix that defines disciplinary infractions, codifies appropriate consequences that are informed by a student's age and cognitive ability (e.g. IEPs), and apply uniformly across all APS campuses. (i.e. No two students in APS shall receive different consequences for the same behavioral infractions.

(2) Administration will extend the ban on Out of School Suspensions (OSS) to include grades 4,5.

(3)Administration will provide training for staff and teachers on Restorative Justice (RJ) Practices, including: - Peer Mediation - Teacher-to-Student RJ - Student-to-Student RJ - Training School Resources Officers on age-informed de-escalation tactics - School counselors are equipped to monitor and record disciplinary processes, and coordinate RJ between all relevant stakeholders, including SEL supports.

(4) A student shall not be denied access to scheduled after-school programming and enrichment activities as disciplinary consequences. This includes on-site after school programming provided by APS and all affiliated vendors in contract with APS