State Rep. Jennifer Bacon had an important message for high school students who attended Wednesday to discuss school security: “We need you all to share your stories.”
Democratic Denver Representative Kevin Bacon commented, stating his belief in the power of change. He concluded:
Nearly 150 people comprising 30 students from 5280 High School attended both online as well as on the day during this Generation Schools Network event, according to the event’s organizers.
5280 Charter School provides assistance for children struggling with addiction issues, self-harm behaviors, eating disorders, as well as other destructive behavior according to its website.
The network’s organizers have spent months drafting what they call the “Justice Engaged Student Bill of Rights.”
Beginning in 2021, the program will be funded through the Colorado Attorney General’s Office and a two-year pilot grant program to connect families, students and teachers while capturing data on academic disruptions due to interactions with the legal system. efforts have since been expanded to various states in Colorado as well as Wyoming.
GSN was founded as a non-profit in Denver in the year 2006 with the goal of helping each student excel academically and professionally.
The Wednesday’s event was intended to gather information that will aid the organization in drafting the language for legislation it plans to propose during the current session of the legislature.
Local efforts are aimed at helping students who have had experiences in the legal system to graduate from high school by removing barriers and providing avenues to return to education.
The argument of supporters is that a constitution is vital because education contributes to financial success for young people, even though their path to graduation could be unpredictable and unplanned.
“Justice engaged” or “justice involved” students refers to children who have been in contact with the justice system as offenders, victims advocates, witnesses or victims – whether as offenders, victims or witnesses. They may or be not have been considered part of this term by school officials and advocates alike.
While not exclusive but not unique to Colorado having an act of rights for troubled kids is becoming more important in the education policy circles.
Generation Schools Network CEOs Bacon and Wendy Loloff Cooper noted that should a bill involving justice-related students be approved in Colorado it would be the first in the United States to pass such a law.
Understanding the whole extent of an issue can be a challenge.
Colorado does not have any state or local government that is capable of monitoring the academic outcomes of these students.
Young people who commit violent crime have been at the center of debates about how to make sure they get a good education.
Some advocates for more effective tracking of these cases and drafting an act of rights to ensure that students charged with crimes receive the proper attention from schools. Denver Public Schools have expressed their support for this ideabut others are concerned others’ children could be put in danger due to this.
“Our system does not meet young people where they are,” Bacon said.
Cooper said that in the last year, more than 6,500 Colorado youth came to the justice system for the very first time. This is about 6 percent of Colorado residents between the ages of 12-17.
A small percentage of students are not expected to get their degrees.
A April 2019 University of Washington study reported that only 20% of the people who were involved in court proceedings had graduated from high school, as opposed to 74 percent of their peers and 19% of graduates experiencing delays in graduation.
Although the language is still under finalization, the bill’s provisions could include tracking requirements as well as provisions to aid students who are involved in justice with school reentry; to clarify academic transfer requirements between districts and lockup facilities and districts, among other things.
Bacon stated that she will be presenting an initial version of her bill before March.
What might go wrong if kids were not attending and learning What could go wrong?”
At the event State Senator. James Coleman of Denver was also present. But, Bacon stated they still require an individual or organization who can sponsor the same legislation to be introduced in the Senate chamber.