Read our Fall 2020 School Reopening Recommendations
In our new learning reality, ASID continues to promote equity and integration in New York City schools. Given the recent draconian budget cuts and the DOE’s current plans for a partial in-person return to school, that goal—which we continue to believe is foundational to transforming our society— is under threat. So as we look toward the learning experiences that will greet our students this fall, we want to update you on our policy stance and invite you to stand with us.
ASID echoes the many calls to listen to and elevate the voices of students, parents and teachers in any reopening plan, and joins our many partners who are calling for a safe and equitable return to school in the fall. In particular, we stand with the Alliance for Quality Education’s comprehensive, student-centered roadmap for a reopening plan that fully funds and resources New York State schools. And, as always, we advocate for a comprehensive, anti-racist approach, inspired by and aligned with the ‘5R’s’ of Real Integration, as developed by the students of Integrate NYC and reflected in nycASID’s policy platform. The 5R’s continue to light the way toward a more equitable education landscape in New York City; we find them more relevant now than ever.
We have outlined a “5R’s approach” to reopening our schools below. To accommodate the current moment, the order of the “R’s” is a bit different, and there are links throughout to help you dig deeper, learn more, and most importantly, take action. Please stand up for these proposals, and share widely!
Resource Equity: Reopening simply cannot happen safely or equitably without increased funding to allow for smaller classes in clean and well-ventilated buildings. New York State received some federal money for schools, then made budgetary choices that actually forced high-need districts—including NYC—to make untenable cuts that make a safe reopening even more difficult. It’s time for the State to fully fund the City’s schools, and for Congress to step in with an additional substantial investment.
Demand that Congress provide crucial Federal education funding
Call for New York State to finally fully fund NYC schools
For families that don’t need the P-EBT funds distributed to all DOE students, donate them.
Culturally Responsive Education: Reopening must acknowledge students’ lived experience by providing a curriculum that is not centered on white, Euro-oriented culture, and by acknowledging the trauma experienced by many students over the past several months.
Advocate for wellness and healing-centered reopening practices, as described in this list produced by the Coalition for Educational Justice and several other partners. Our schools should not only continue the moratorium on State testing and the P/NC approach to grading for at least the first semester, but also specifically acknowledge the disproportionate impact on communities of color of the COVID pandemic and the BLM protests, and create space for students to process the impact in school.
Support and share the Alliance for Quality Education’s Roadmap to a Just Reopening and Just Schools, which prioritizes a student-centered, comprehensive approach for addressing the needs of the whole child, with special consideration of the needs of special education, English Language Learners and Multilingual Learners, immigrant, and at-risk students.
(Learn more about Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Remote Education and trauma-informed recommendations for a healthy return to school)
Restorative Justice: Reopening demands a comprehensive approach to restorative justice in all schools to ensure that students who have borne the brunt of the pandemic don't subsequently end up subject to discipline.
Help ensure that students, especially students of color, do not miss days of instruction due to suspensions. Support the Solutions Not Suspensions Act.
Demand that school safety agents are immediately transferred out from under the aegis of the NYPD and trained in restorative practices—sign the Get Cops Out of Schools petition now.
Advocate for restorative practices system-wide, including in-depth training of all staff in the school building, as well as sufficient mental health and social work supports in all schools (at least one guidance counselor—not a college counselor—for every 80 students) as called for by Teens Take Charge.
Representation: Reopening offers a chance to take a reparations approach to our teaching force and DOE contracts, and to center the voices of students and educators. ASID believes that our schools must:
Ensure that any staffing cuts don't disproportionately impact teachers of color.
Prioritize hiring of people of color.
Prioritize relationships and contracts with minority-owned CBOs and businesses.
Prioritize student voice on SLTs and CECs—make them voting members.
Race and Enrollment: Finally, like all education policy, reopening plans demand an equity lens on student assignment.
Any alternative locations or staffing plans must be scrutinized to prevent inferior offerings from falling disproportionately on students of color.
Any plan by DOE to redistribute students between over and under-utilized school buildings should prioritize equity and integration, and not result in greater racial and socio-economic segregation of students.
Reopening plans must not exacerbate existing stratification: We must close existing loopholes in the Chancellor’s Regulations that could allow schools with wealthy PTAs to fund extra staff or additional locations to allow for greater in-person opportunities than at schools without those resources.
It’s time to #Repeal Hecht Calandra, which mandates the use of the SHSAT, and eliminate discriminatory admissions screens once and for all.
If you or someone you know is an educator in NYC District 2, please sign the D2 Educators petition calling for an end to screening there.
(Learn more about discriminatory screening with these short films from us at nycASID and our partners at IntegrateNYC)
As we head into the 2020-21 school year—and the heart of election season—ASID promises to stay connected to student leaders and movement partners, provide space for conversation, and share the best possible information about what’s happening and how you can plug in.
Thank you, and stay safe and well.