Educational Justice Program

(also visit edjustice.org)

The Educational Justice Program brings Justice Matters' vision of racial justice to the educational justice arena. Many forms of institutional racism stunt and destroy the educational development of our children. The Educational Justice Program seeks to overcome the marginalization of people of color in schooling through dissemination of information and ideas, building community and networks, advocacy, and policy development.

Research has produced a lot of data on what is referred to as the “racial achievement gap” in education. By the time they reach grade twelve, African American and Latino students are about four years behind White students, academically. Part of this gap is a byproduct of socioeconomic achievement gaps; however, there is also an achievement gap between middle class African American students and their White counterparts. The racial achievement gap has not narrowed during the 1990s, suggesting that there is a need for new types of approaches and efforts in order to eliminate it. In part, there is a need for new research that takes a fresh approach to the problem. However, a great deal is already known about effective approaches for eliminating the achievement gap—much of the problem has to do with the lack of accessibility of information on what works, and lack of pressure on policy makers to implement solutions.

Over time, the Educational Justice Program targets many issues related to the racial achievement gap. Currently there is a strong focus on the issue of discipline practices used with students of color. At risk for disproportionate suspensions, expulsions, and arrests while at school, students of color face losing their very access to education because of discipline approaches. These practices exclude them from school and increase their likelihood of involvement with the criminal justice system. School discipline is an important issue to address for another reason: solutions exist that not only correct the problem itself, but that improve the quality of schooling for all students. Several public schools in low-income areas have demonstrated policies that produce safe, productive learning environments without resorting to harsh or biased discipline practices.

Program Description

The Educational Justice Program (EJP) uses an effective combination of strategies in promoting an excellent education for students of color:
• Research: EJP conducts both original research as well as synthesizing existing research about policies and practices that improve education for students of color while increasing the overall quality of schooling.
• Targeted Dissemination: EJP translates research into accessible formats and then disseminates it to parties who are positioned to influence policy outcomes. At times, EJP targets research products to community groups who can use them as tools in their efforts to influence school districts and legislators towards successful solutions. At other times, EJP reaches out directly to those policy makers.
• Media Outreach: EJP takes ideas and research to the media, working to shape public opinion as well as influence the environment in which policy makers make decisions.
• Collaboration and Participation in Coalitions: EJP coordinates its activities with other organizations that introduce other resources such as legal advocacy and grassroots organizing.
Currently, EJP is working on several projects related to improving school discipline policy in local school districts. EJP is also examining a variety of education policies in the state of California and their impact on students of color. Projects vary in scope from local to statewide.