We, as undersigned, call out school districts across California and across the nation to act now to close the racial disparities in school discipline that are clearly documented. 

In recent years, many studies have revealed that Black and Latino students were much more likely to be suspended, expelled, or contacted by law enforcement than white students, even when taking student behavior into account. These differences are not an issue with the students’ behavior; they are a result of the systemic inequity that has been infused in our schools. These outcomes are significant, including: students who are suspended are at a much higher risk of academic failure, school drop-out rates, and involvement in the criminal justice system, known as the “school-to-prison pipeline.” 

We believe all students deserve to learn in an environment of healing and seeing them grow, instead of being punished for their behavior, and that discipline is fair. We therefore demand: 

An end to zero-tolerance policies, which disproportionately impact students of color.
Restorative justice programs in all K-12 public schools shall be required.
Annual reporting of discipline data, which is transparent by race and ethnicity.
Providing culturally responsive practices and implicit bias training for all school staff.

Educational racial inequity should be a moral and legal priority. Please sign this petition to call for action.