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To: Ben Marcovitz, CEO of Collegiate Academies

SUPPORT BLACK YOUTH: LOCKED OUT OF KATRINA RECOVERY/PUSHED OUT OF SCHOOL!

LET KIDS BE KIDS - NO ZERO TOLERANCE FOR CHILDREN! We are horrified when reading your student handbook. Students and parents have complained "We get detentions or suspensions for not walking on the taped lines in the hallway." A lot of energy is expended to hold our most valuable, yet vulnerable assets accountable, our children; but, who holds accountable those entrusted to teach and care for them? Therefore, we demand that Collegiate Academies:
Place a moratorium on suspensions for the remainder of this school year, establish a school and citizen review team and ensure ALL teachers are trained on best practices as per ACT 136 of 2010 and that information made available on your website and annual reports.

Why is this important?

Why is this important?
If we believe children are our future, ALL children, then it is our duty to ensure that each and every one, even those with challenging behaviors are given every opportunity to grow and thrive. In the predominately black, still storm ravaged Eastern New Orleans, Collegiate Academies operates 3 schools. Each school has chosen to suspend children at rates over 40, 50 and 60% or more each year, when other alternatives are available. Children can’t learn if they are not in school. Schools do a great job of having zero tolerance and accountability for our children and we want more accountability from our schools. High suspension rates do not reflect the use of positive reinforcement methods, rather oppressive discipline. Collegiate Academies does a great job at showcasing its successes in annual reports, however, there is no mention of suspension rates, infractions youth are suspended for, the number of teachers who receive professional development training for restorative practices, conflict resolution or positive behavior supports as per ACT 136 of 2010 or your attrition rates. Recognizing that African-American students in Louisiana public schools are suspended and expelled at disproportionately high rates, according to a report from the Education Department, families want to be assured that Collegiate Academies is following best practice in order to educate our children and not pushing out children who need the most support.
If the Louisiana Department of Education’s goal is to provide learning environments and experiences, at all stages of human development, that are humane, just, and designed to promote excellence in order that every individual may be afforded an equal opportunity to develop to his full potential as per our Preamble, Article 8, Louisiana State Constitution, in New Orleans we are failing our children. For the 2013 school year, 46,625 out-of-school suspensions were doled out, which was more than the total number of children enrolled in New Orleans public schools that year. Recovery from harsh discipline polices for some children and families leaves them feeling as though they are still in the midst of a storm. Collegiate Academies promotes itself as a national model stating – “we seek perfection in everything we do”. Children are not perfect and neither is a model that suspends, at times, more than half of their students.
The same year Collegiate Academies was suspending more than ½ of their school population; Pope Francis knelt before 12 children and washed their feet, choosing to perform the Holy Thursday ritual at a juvenile detention facility in Rome. One of the most important men in the world showed his willingness to serve troubled children, to exhibit the values of compassion and forgiveness that we hold dear in our society. He didn’t just preach to the children and give them guidance about how they can live better lives. He didn’t suspend them or push them away; he knelt down and washed their feet. He cared and took action. Please join with FFLIC today in taking action for ALL children, sign this petition and demand that Collegiate Academies cease suspending children and ensure teachers are properly trained.

How it will be delivered

We plan to deliver petition in person on October 13th, 2015

New Orleans, LA, United States

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Updates

2015-10-15 18:05:18 -0700

500 signatures reached

2015-09-24 09:26:36 -0700

Thank you everyone for your support of our Let Kids Be Kids Campaign. Collegiate Academies (CA) have agreed to meet with us as they stated they have been working to reduce suspensions and welcome our help. This is great news, but there is so much more to do as this is only one charter operator and we have many to go.

Please join us for tonight for Color of Change first online townhall "Aftermath: The Movement for Black Lives 10 Years After Katrina." The event will be moderated by CNN Political Contributor and ColorOfChange Co-founder Van Jones.

Follow this link to join online: http://act.colorofchange.org/signup/katrina-town-hall//?source=FFLIC

Please tweet about it to your friends and add our twitter handle @fflicla and hashtag #M4BLinNOLA

2015-09-23 14:31:07 -0700

100 signatures reached

2015-09-23 08:39:58 -0700

50 signatures reached

2015-09-22 17:55:13 -0700

25 signatures reached

2015-09-22 15:31:06 -0700

10 signatures reached