'School Discipline: A Pathway to the Juvenile Justice System or an Opportunity for Effective Intervention?'

Michelle Deitch asked me to post this announcement about an upcoming event focused on school discipline at UT's LBJ School with the same appellation as this headline:

The Barbara Jordan Freedom Foundation Symposium

“School Discipline: A Pathway to the Juvenile Justice System or an Opportunity for Effective Intervention?”

Monday, February 20, 2012

1:00 – 5:00 pm

The Barbara Jordan Freedom Foundation, in collaboration with the Center for Health and Social Policy (CHASP) at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, will present a symposium focused on the issues of school discipline and the juvenile justice system on Monday, February 20, from 1:00 – 5:00 pm.  The event, which takes place the week of Barbara Jordan’s birthday, is also co-sponsored by the William Wayne Justice Center at the University of Texas School of Law.

Texas State Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson will deliver the keynote address at 1 p.m. The keynote will be followed by three panels featuring elected officials, policymakers, and juvenile justice and education experts.  Confirmed speakers to date include Texas State Senator John Whitmire, Tony Fabelo (Council on State Governments Justice Center and author of Breaking Schools’ Rules report), Deborah Fowler (Texas Appleseed), Travis County Juvenile Judge Jeanne Meurer, Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, Prof. Brenda Scheuermann (national PBIS expert), Frank Vega (expert on children's mental health and trauma), and Mel Waxler (AISD). The first panel will focus on understanding the current policy landscape, including recent research on school suspensions and expulsions, and ticketing practices. The second panel will cover effective interventions with misbehaving students, and the third panel will center on shifting the culture surrounding school discipline and implementing reforms at the district level.  An agenda with a complete list of speakers is forthcoming and will be available here.

This event is free and open to the public, but space is limited and registration is required. To register, please visit: http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/news/barbarajordan/registration

The event will take place at the LBJ School of Public Affairs’ Bass Lecture Hall, located at 2315 Red River St., Austin, Texas, 78712. 

For more information, please contact the symposium chair,  Michele Deitch, at Michele.Deitch@mail.utexas.edu.

The Barbara Jordan Freedom Foundation (BJFF) is a new organization dedicated to perpetuating the legacy of Barbara Jordan by inspiring America to achieve the promise of freedom and justice for all people, by promoting the success of children through early childhood opportunities and effective education, and by confronting injustices and inequities in the juvenile and adult criminal justice systems.  The organization’s initial focus will be on issues related to school discipline.