Transformative Edge of Reform

Transformative Edge of Reform

There are current advocacy proposals that aim at addressing the impact of decades of systemic racism and inequity within the public education system. The New Deal aligns with the Youth Mandate for Education & Liberation - Comprehensive youth-led organized mandates for local, state and federal government to permanently end the school-to-prison-and-deportation pipeline and build a liberatory education system based on principles of inclusion, equity and racial justice. “Creating a liberatory education system is possible. It requires local, state and federal officials to follow the vision of youth of color and support their education, creativity, joy and ultimately their dignity.” This mandate includes policy mandates and budgetary actions for the Biden administration including: 

• Provide free access to college for all students, including undocumented students.

• Eligibility and access to free access to college and education is not contingent on continuous enrollment. Students retain eligibility regardless of needing to stop and restart for personal reasons. 

• Take immediate administrative action to forgive all student loan debt.

• Direct appointed Secretary of Education and Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights within the Department of Education to publicly commit to police-free schools.

• Support and drive budget actions to: 

  • End federal funding for police in schools; 

  • Fully fund the Office for Civil Rights within the Department of Education, including the costs necessary to restaff the office; 

  • Cut funding to ICE; 

  • Fully fund TItle I and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

  • Provide state and local government with sufficient funding for K-12 public education; specifically to prevent education budget cuts and address funding shortfalls caused by the COVID-19 pandemic

  • Invest in expanding the sustainable community schools model

  • Increase funding to grant programs that provide culturally responsive supports and resources to schools including more teachers, guidance counselors and restorative justice practitioners 

• Issue an executive order that immediately and unequivocally ends the 1033 program and order any recipients of equipment to return and/or dismantle all weapons, vehicles, and equipment received under the program.

• Take immediate action to forgive all student loan debt. Provide free access to college for all students, including undocumented students.

• Strengthen and re-issue civil rights guidance for students of color, students with disabilities, immigrant students, female students, students who are transgender, and all LGBTQIA+ students. Immediately rescind all guidance that limits the civil rights of these groups.

• Create a comprehensive plan to address the educational loss and changed educational trajectory, reduction in college graduation, unfair disciplinary practices, and other education related harms caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.