The Center for the Study of Scholastic DisciplineGenesisFollowing the publication of an important article in Science News (How schools can reduce excessive discipline of Black students), the founder (Brooks Harrelson) had an idea that might reduce the issue. With 12 years experience in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work, and as a founding commissioner of one of the first LGBTQIA+ municipal commissions in America for 4 years (the Arlington MA LGBTQIA+ Rainbow Commission), the tools from other disciplines came to mind. Because of the founder's 40 years of technology experience in building large-scale systems and AI, it was apparent that sophisticated search and analysis tools were readily available. Do policy metrics work?The Municipal Equality Index (MEI) of the Human Rights Campaign is an instrument that measures policy and has proven effective in encouraging municipalities to create and improve those policies relating to equity in many areas affecting non-gender conforming populations. For example, we have seen municipalities work closely with police departments to create policies for safe intake and housing of non-gender conforming individuals. In general, municipalities that undertake self-evaluations (scored by HRC) embark on multi-year improvements in policies resulting in more equitable communities. Measuring policyThe MEI is a measurement device. Large problems (like equity) can rarely be addressed until there are relevant measures. It occured to the CSSD founders that such a measurement tool could be both appropriate and effective with regard to disparities in scholastic discipline. Additionally, there are state-level records of discipline application across target demographics. Is this a good idea?Many professionals in education and universities (some listed here) were consulted to request feedback on whether they knew of such an instrument, or, if not, whether they thought such an effort would be worthwhile. No one expressed knowledge of any similar instrument, all expressed that they thought such an instrument would be useful and possibly effective, and several volunteered to assist with creation, review and monitoring. Thus the Center for the Study of Scholastic Discipline was created. We are grateful for the support we are receiving: SupportersWhat's nextAn AI generated poem |
working to reduce the school to prison pipeline Center for the Study of Scholastic Discipline |