“Tolerance in Schools for Latino Students: Dismantling the School to Prison Pipeline”

April 15, 2013
11:00 am – 12:30 pm

Rayburn House Office Building – Room B339

“Tolerance in Schools for Latino Students: Dismantling the School to Prison Pipeline”
Moderated by CHCI Law Graduate Fellow Jennifer Castillo

Read the  2013 Law Graduate Summit White Paper-Jennifer Castillo

The school to prison pipeline refers to the practice of pushing students out of educational institutions, primarily via zero tolerance and harsh disciplinary policies, and into the juvenile and adult criminal justice systems. Research shows that these policies have failed to make schools safer, and are linked to an increased likelihood of academic underperformance. Latinos and African American students are disproportionately represented at every stage of the school-to-prison pipeline. These students are far more likely than their white peers to face suspension, expulsion or arrests for the same school based infractions. This panel will examine the disproportionate impact harsh disciplinary policies have on Latino youth, and discuss possible solutions for dismantling this unjust system.

Join CHCI Law Graduate Fellow Jennifer Castillo as she leads a discussion on how policy makers, community advocates, and school administrators can work together to change existing policies and practices to ensure that schools cease producing inmates; and, instead prepare students to succeed.

Panelists:

Dana Shoenberg: Deputy Director, Center for Children’s Law and Policy (CCLP)

Carmen Daugherty: Policy Director, Campaign for Youth Justice

R. Daniel Okonkwo: Executive Director, DC Lawyers for Youth

James Ferg-Cadima: Regional Counsel, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF)