DeVos to consider repeal of discipline equity guidance
April 30 , 2018 EDCAL 1
Periodicals Dated Material
Education California | The official newspaper of the Association of California School Administrators Volume 47 | Number 28 | April 30 , 2018
Impending Supreme Court ruling brings spate of bills to Capitol
Task force to address student safety and creating a healthy learning environment
A case with potentially huge political ramifications in the world of employer-employee relations was heard at the end of February by the U . S . Supreme Court . A decision on the case will be coming soon .
The case is Janus v . American Federation of State , County , and Municipal Employees . At its heart is the matter of the right of labor unions to collect fees from nonunion members for the service of collective bargaining .
As might be expected , labor groups are very nervous about the ruling . A similar case came before the court two years ago . At the time , most expected the conservative-leaning court to rule against unions on this issue . However , the sudden death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia resulted
ACSA ’ s Fatal School Violence Task Force prepares to meet recently in Sacramento .
With instances of school violence and threats permeating nationwide , ACSA is taking a proactive step in addressing the importance of school safety with the formation of the Fatal School Violence Task Force .
“ We believe there is a need to have serious discussions about these issues because students are our first priority as educators ,” said ACSA President-elect Holly Edds . “ With regard to school violence and threats , we are facing new challenges every day and we ’ ve assembled a group that has a great interest in strengthening the school environment .”
The Task Force is made up of more than 20 volunteers , including ACSA members and staff , school district law enforcement officers , and crisis management experts . Their goal is to go beyond discussion and build a strategic plan to creates a safe and healthy learning environment .
“ We want this group to determine what school safety tactics are possible and how best to implement those tactics ,” Edds said . “ We see this as an opportunity to drive substantive change on our campuses .”
Using a facilitator to move the initial brainstorming session , participants focused on three subject areas : prevention ; preparedness ; and communication . The Task Force members were asked to consider goals and what can be done through advocacy to save lives .
“ There is always the consideration of a funding mechanism ,” Edds said . “ But we have a need to think beyond the dollars and cents of the matter and consider what policies we can have implemented statewide through elections and advocacy days .”
ACSA ’ s Resource Hub currently has a section called School Violence Resources that includes a crisis toolkit from San Bernardino City USD and several articles on making campuses safer . Task Force members believe providing templates to districts in need of
See TASK FORCE , page 8 in a 4-4 non-decision . Scalia was eventually replaced by Neil Gorsuch , who is also viewed as a conservative . Thus the trepidation by unions on this case before the court .
Not surprisingly , unions have been doing all they can to stave off a sudden loss of political power . Therefore , a number of bills
See BILLS , page 2
DeVos to consider repeal of discipline equity guidance
Concern is mounting over the potential repeal of Obama-era discipline guidance that aims to ensure equitable treatment of all students .
The formation of a federal commission on school safety following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting is the source of the concern . The task force , chaired by U . S . Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos , plans to consider the repeal , among other measures .
In an Education Week commentary March 27 , key players in the crafting of the guidance document , Vanita Gupta and Catherine Lhamon , state : “ The reality is , many American schools have a problem : separate and unequal discipline practices that discriminate on the basis of race . We know from careful investigations we oversaw at the departments of Justice and Education that children of color and those with disabilities often receive harsher disciplinary interventions than their white and non-disabled counterparts – for the same offenses . … Rescinding the guidance would not result in safer , nurturing schools . It would remove a crucial tool from educators ’ toolbox , giving them no direction about how to address classroom situations and leaving students vulnerable to racial discrimination that has plagued American schools since the very first school desegregation agreements that the civil rights offices of both the Department of Justice and the Department of Education were created to secure and enforce .”
Gupta and Lhamon led the civil rights offices at the Departments of Justice and Education , respectively , during President Obama ’ s administration . Gupta is currently the president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights , and Lhamon chairs the U . S . Commission
See
DISCIPLINE , page 3
Women ’ s leadership . “ Empowering Our Future ” is the theme for ACSA Region 8 ’ s Women ’ s Leadership Network event , 7:30-9 a . m . May 30 at the Santa Clara County Office of Education in San Jose . Join county Superintendent Mary Ann Dewan and Emma Mayerson from Alliance for Girls for networking and presentations on developing persistence and courage on your leadership journey . The event is free to members and one guest and $ 10 for others . RSVP to bit . ly / wln53018 or email klarson @ scoew . org .
Personnel changes . CT3 , formerly the Center for Transformative Teacher Training , has expanded its executive leadership and management team capacity to accommodate current clients and prepare for company growth . Effective April 16 , Nataki Gregory moved from partnership manager to became vice president of education and strategic partnerships . On July 1 , Wanda Perez , Eyka Stephens and Joy Treadwell will be promoted to managing associates . More on these and all CT3 team members can be found at www . ct3education . com / about / team .
Green Summit . The 2018 Green California Schools and Community Colleges Summit comes to the Pasadena Convention Center Oct . 29-30 . Session proposals are being accepted , with special interest in presentations from school-based project teams that can share lessons learned and best practices from their facility and environmental literacy programs . Visit www . green-technology . org / gcschools-18-presentation to submit a proposal .
Principals conference . NAESP ’ s Pre-K – 8 Principals Conference , July 9-11 at the Orlando World Center Marriott , is an opportunity for professional development for your team . NAESP ’ s conference website can provide more information and also features links to travel discounts . Visit www . naespconference . org .
Reasons to celebrate in May
Unless you suffer from hay fever , May is a month for lifting spirits as the weather clears and the sun shines . And there are many special observances to celebrate during the month . Following are a few of note for school leaders , along with suggested web resources .
• School Principals Day takes place May 1 . Comprising the largest single jobalike category under the ACSA umbrella , school site leaders are critical players in raising student achievement .
• Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month . Resources and events can be found at https :// asianpacificheritage . gov .
• National Mental Health Month . Download a toolkit at www . mentalhealthamerica . net / may .
• National Physical Fitness and Sports Month . Find out more at the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion website at https :// healthfinder . gov / NHO /
MayToolkit . aspx .
• National Teacher Appreciation Week ( May 7-11 ) and California Day of the Teacher ( May 9 ). Teachers are the primary contributors in helping students learn . Honor them this week and special day by checking out suggestions at www . teacher-appreciation . info and the CTA website at http :// bit . ly / 2HPbKAO .
• School Nutrition Employee Week ( May 7-11 ). Ideas for honoring these employees ranging from simple to extravagant can be found at https :// schoolnutrition . org / SLHD / Recognize /.
• National School Nurse Day ( May 9 ). A proclamation and sample news release for these special people can be found at https :// www . nasn . org / advocacy / schoolnurse-day .
May is also the month for a couple of big national observations : Mother ’ s Day on May 13 and Memorial Day on May 28 .