BAEO President Jacqueline Cooper released the following statement on U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. call for charter schools to become leaders in student discipline to keep students the classroom and have the opportunity to learn. The secretary spoke during a general session at the 2016 National Charter School Conference.
“We believe Black children are inherently intelligent and talented and when provided access to equitable and adequate resources like those provided by charter schools, they will achieve at the highest academic levels.
“That’s why we thank Secretary King and the Department of Education for bringing attention to best practices around school discipline and to create a suite of resources by the National Charter Schools Resource Center to help charter school leaders rethink discipline practices. Our children belong in school where they can be engaged daily by caring and committed adults.
“BAEO is committed to engaging the school community and all stakeholders around innovative discipline methods and restorative justice practices. When possible, young people should remain in the school environment where learning and character growth can continue.”
About the Black Alliance for Educational Options:
The Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO) is a national non-profit education advocacy organization founded in 2000 by prominent Black educators, elected officials and civil rights activists. BAEO’s mission is to increase access to high-quality educational options for Black children by actively supporting transformational education reform initiatives and parental choice policies that empower low-income and working-class Black families. For more information on BAEO visit http://www.baeo.org.
