Call on OUSD to Stop Expelling Disabled Students from Schools to Close Their Programs
Call on OUSD to Stop Expelling Disabled Students from Schools to Close Their Programs
The Issue
Oakland Unified School District administrators have normalized the ableist practice of expelling disabled students from their school communities to close or “phase out” their Special Education programs. Stability, continuity, and belonging for disabled students in schools should concern everyone.
The School Board must adopt a resolution that would stop the expulsion of disabled students from their schools and ensure their place in school communities moving forward.
Urge the Board Directors to vote YES on the resolution; ask them to affirm their commitment to school stability and belonging for all disabled students in OUSD.
Please share this message with everyone.
Schools named for program closures and removal of disabled students: Sequoia, Joaquin Miller, United for Success, Manzanita Community, Manzanita Seed, Montera, Brookfield, Castlemont, and Bella Vista.
For more information go to: https://www.facebook.com/CAC4SpEdOUSD/
WHY WE NEED AN IMMEDIATE MORATORIUM:
1) The removal of disabled students from their schools causes emotional trauma and educational harm, especially when students wonder why they alone must leave in contrast to the larger student body. This is ableism.
2) The removal of disabled students from their schools presumes that they do not have relationships within or beyond their Special Education classrooms. This is ableism.
3) In many cases, administrators remove disabled students from their schools multiple times during their educational journey. This is recurring ableism.
4) These removals of disabled students devalue and destroy the work of schools to build accessibility, support, and belonging for them. This is ableism.
5) Administrators are robbing impacted students, families, and staff of the opportunity to advocate for themselves individually and collectively ahead of decisions that will seriously affect them. This is ableism.
6) We have no evidence that staff are providing adequate information and support to the students, families, and staff harmed by these removals. The abrupt way in which these removals are happening will cause additional hardship and trauma to students who already face exclusion in their daily lives. This is ableism.
7) These removals are moving forward without the public vetting or approval of any group dedicated to the well-being of disabled students. This is ableism.
8) OUSD leaders are not upholding the basic right of disabled students to attend a school for the entire grade span. They are instead targeting disabled students and classrooms in a way that would be not tolerated for non-disabled students. This is ableism.
1,624
The Issue
Oakland Unified School District administrators have normalized the ableist practice of expelling disabled students from their school communities to close or “phase out” their Special Education programs. Stability, continuity, and belonging for disabled students in schools should concern everyone.
The School Board must adopt a resolution that would stop the expulsion of disabled students from their schools and ensure their place in school communities moving forward.
Urge the Board Directors to vote YES on the resolution; ask them to affirm their commitment to school stability and belonging for all disabled students in OUSD.
Please share this message with everyone.
Schools named for program closures and removal of disabled students: Sequoia, Joaquin Miller, United for Success, Manzanita Community, Manzanita Seed, Montera, Brookfield, Castlemont, and Bella Vista.
For more information go to: https://www.facebook.com/CAC4SpEdOUSD/
WHY WE NEED AN IMMEDIATE MORATORIUM:
1) The removal of disabled students from their schools causes emotional trauma and educational harm, especially when students wonder why they alone must leave in contrast to the larger student body. This is ableism.
2) The removal of disabled students from their schools presumes that they do not have relationships within or beyond their Special Education classrooms. This is ableism.
3) In many cases, administrators remove disabled students from their schools multiple times during their educational journey. This is recurring ableism.
4) These removals of disabled students devalue and destroy the work of schools to build accessibility, support, and belonging for them. This is ableism.
5) Administrators are robbing impacted students, families, and staff of the opportunity to advocate for themselves individually and collectively ahead of decisions that will seriously affect them. This is ableism.
6) We have no evidence that staff are providing adequate information and support to the students, families, and staff harmed by these removals. The abrupt way in which these removals are happening will cause additional hardship and trauma to students who already face exclusion in their daily lives. This is ableism.
7) These removals are moving forward without the public vetting or approval of any group dedicated to the well-being of disabled students. This is ableism.
8) OUSD leaders are not upholding the basic right of disabled students to attend a school for the entire grade span. They are instead targeting disabled students and classrooms in a way that would be not tolerated for non-disabled students. This is ableism.
1,624
The Decision Makers
Petition created on April 30, 2023