Just reading this was stressful to me. These statistics stuck right out—that I imagine might be similar in other states, including Texas:
Each student, one after another, drove the message home that youth of color are the most impacted by school climate, especially when there’s no meaningful relationships with adults in their school. Alena Cotton, a youth leader from Fresno, shared that “right now, students are experiencing a lot in and outside our schools:
- More than 50 percent of students of color are experiencing high levels of stress because of the political moment.
- More than 200,000 of California’s students are homeless or have unstable housing.
- One-third of students report chronic sadness.
- One-third of students report being bullied or harassed at school.
- One-third of students cannot report at least one caring adult at school
Children and youth feel isolated from adults and this is not at all healthy for our society or for a democracy. Appropriately, the students say, "School climate is the heart." Positive, constructive relationships with adults at school. For all that they need to accomplish in life, what could be more important?
I found this to be true, as well, in the research that I did for Subtractive Schooling: U.S. Mexican Youth and the Politics of Caring which I see is available now on Kindle. I like to think that our push for Ethnic Studies in Texas will go a long way toward addressing school climate matters, but so much more clearly needs to be done. Hats off to CFJ for bringing this to light.
Angela Valenzuela
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On November 8, more than 30 students of color and parents from across California, including representatives from the California Teachers Association, Orange County Congregation Community Organization (OCCCO), Faith in Merced, California Youth Connection (CYC), and Families in Schools, mobilized to send a clear message: school climate is a top priority and the State Board of Education (SBE) and California legislators must take action. In a visual display inside the SBE, students painted the picture of what’s at stake for students of color when school climate is not prioritized:
“School climate is the heart of our education system. Climate surveys are our school’s annual check-up. And when we don’t have these check ups, we are neglecting our heart,” expressed Armon Mathews, a youth leader in Oakland.
In an orchestrated action, students stood by Armon and cut a red ribbon that symbolized school climate as a lifeline for so many students of color around California. As Armon stated, “when we neglect our heart...students don’t have a caring adult in their classroom. When we neglect our heart...foster youth and homeless youth remained uncared for. When we neglect our heart...a parent doesn’t feel welcomed on their child’s campus. When we neglect our heart….students aren’t prepared to go to college. When we neglect our heart...students drop out of school.”
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Each student, one after another, drove the message home that youth of color are the most impacted by school climate, especially when there’s no meaningful relationships with adults in their school. Alena Cotton, a youth leader from Fresno, shared that “right now, students are experiencing a lot in and outside our schools:
- More than 50 percent of students of color are experiencing high levels of stress because of the political moment.
- More than 200,000 of California’s students are homeless or have unstable housing.
- One-third of students report chronic sadness.
- One-third of students report being bullied or harassed at school.
- One-third of students cannot report at least one caring adult at school.”
She went on to underscore the fact that, “right now, School Climate is being singled out. It’s not being treated like [other] indicators. It’s not annual like all the academic indicators. There is no funding to support it. There’s also not the same attention or direction. You need to ask, what kind of message does that send to us as students?”
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Taryn connected the importance of school climate data in addressing equity gaps for students of color, English Learners, and students with disabilities in the new CA School Dashboard and closed by asking state leaders to "walk the talk" on making school climate and student voice a priority.
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As expressed by Armon, “students have been putting in a lot of time to improve our education system in our districts, schools, and here at the state capitol. We’ve been doing our part. It’s been 23 months since we first asked you to prioritize school climate as an indicator. Students can’t wait, we don’t want to keep talking about how important school climate is; we want action. We need you to lead with us.”
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Inside the State Capitol
As students and parents continued to speak at the State Board of Education hearing, another group of students, parents, and allies led delegation visits to eight Senate and Assembly education committee members to engage their support to defend and mend the Local Control Funding Formula, California’s public school fair funding system. As we go into 2018 and in the wake of critical elections, including new CA governor and state superintendent, it is imperative that we work together with our legislators to support and improve the LCFF, and to create potential legislation and budgetary action to strengthen student and parent engagement and school climate.
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During the legislative visits, we obtained critical information and gained insight on how vested each legislator is in the LCFF and in further collaboration with us. We also gained helpful feedback on our efforts to organize an effective statewide push for budgetary action to further fund school climate and student and parent engagement. As a next step, we will be convening with the “Defend and Mend” coalition, a coalition made up of more than 15 grassroots organizations across the state representing more than 30 districts composed of student and parent groups engaged with their district LCAPs on the ground, in order to advance efforts to defend and mend the LCFF in the next year.
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At the end of the day, school climate retook center stage in Sacramento, instilling in each State Board of Education member and legislator that school climate IS the heart of education and the lifeline for students of color. Action is needed now; students of color can no longer wait.
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