Education not Incarceration!

Click here to see new JK-R and JK discipline policies!

Padres y Jóvenes Unidos have been working with the Denver Public Schools for the last three years to create a discipline policy that respects student and parent rights! 

The new policy has two parts:  a Discipline Ladder and Matrix, which are designed to ensure that students are not unfairly punished and pushed out of school.   However, students and parents need to know their rights under this new policy, so that they can protect themselves.  With the new policy, the Discipline Ladder has five different levels that determine consequences when students are to be disciplined.

Jovenes members share their findings and solutions with Denver Public Schools Superintendent Michael Bennet.

 ". . . Most of all, I just want to say thank you because I believe in my heart that you [Padres and Jovenes] were the driving force; I know there were a lot of people that worked on this and I applaud their efforts as well, but I sat in meetings, I think we did a three or four hour meeting one night...and you were there leading the charge in that and I appreciate that."

- Comments from DPS Board Member: Michelle Moss (8/21/08 DPS Board meeting)

 You can also read:

"Education on Lockdown: The Schoolhouse to Jailhouse Track", the report issued in spring 2004 by the Advancement Project, Padres and Jovenes Unidos, Gen Y, and CARE.

Education not Incarceration Presentation Materials used by Jovenes Unidos to present their findings to the community:

• The Denver Schoolhouse to Jailhouse Track

• Tickets issued in DPS by Charge, 2004-05

• Tickets issued in DPS by Charge, 2003-04
  

• Increase in Tickets issued in DPS, 2000-2004

• Tickets issued in DPS, 2003-04, by race

• Number of Suspensions for Students in Colorado, 2004-05

• Out-of-School Suspensions in DPS by Race, 2004-05

• Cost of incarceration vs. education