We Interrupt This Crisis With Our Side of the Story: Relationships Between South Los Angeles Parents and Schools. October 2004. (Spanish, English) In this report, Community Asset Development Redefining Education (CADRE), a parent-organizing group in South Los Angeles, presents the results of a parent-led research project that was conducted in collaboration with Justice Matters Institute. This report documents the current state of relationships between South LA schools and parents. It confirms that parents want to be involved in their children's education and it illustrates the importance of school-parent relationships in improving education. Through surveying South LA parents, CADRE found that parents are calling for cultural inclusion, engagement and accountability in schools. This report gives voice to South LA parents' experiences and will help shape CADRE's campaign to redefine relationships between South LA schools and families.

Supporting the Education Organizing Movement: An Exchange Between Intermediaries by Rosanna Bayon Moore and Susan Sandler. This report documents a gathering in June 2003 of organizations that provide various types of support to community organizing efforts to improve schools. Supporting the Education Organizing Movement captures the themes that emerged from this discussion of challenges, questions, and opportunities for those working to support and enhance the impact of education organizing.

“Bridging Research and Education Organizing: Can We Strengthen Our Combined Power?” by Olivia E. Araiza, Associate Director of Justice Matters Institute’s Educational Justice Program. This paper examines the role of research in education organizing efforts. The role of research in education change work takes on different and sometimes conflicting meanings for community organizing groups and research-based organizations. This paper explores the implications of each research approach for education change efforts, and how the two approaches can be bridged for greater combined power.

In It for Life: Investing in Young Leaders for a Better Society This report analyzes the barriers that college students face as they pursue making a contribution to social justice through meaningful life work. In it for Life also documents how Justice Matters Institute’s leadership program supports college students committed to social justice in overcoming these barriers.

Published 2001

Susan Sandler, director of the Educational Justice Program, recently wrote a chapter in "The Zero-Tolerance Handbook."

Published 2001

An op-ed co-authored by JMI staff member, Susan Sandler, appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle on September 10th, 2001. This article was titled, "Zero-Tolerance Policies Provide Zero Benefit."

Printed 09-10-01

Turning To Each Other Not On Each Other by Susan Sandler and the Justice Matters Discipline Taskforce: This report is about how school communities prevent racial bias in school discipline. It profiles schools across the country that are models of strong communities with caring discipline approaches and that get excellent results.

Published 2000

Reading the World: Redefining Literature and History Curriculum: by Amanda Kemp, Editor; Susan Sandler, Ashindi Maxton

Published 1999