YRJ is expanding SchoolWorks to address a critical need in our community for educational advocacy in early childhood. The SchoolWorks Parent Advocacy for Student Success (PASS) program will serve BIPOC parents and guardians, providing them with legal representation in school settings to ensure their children are receiving the school services and support necessary for success. PASS will also provide community-based educational rights trainings to empower parents and community partners to advocate on behalf of the students in their lives.
In 2021, YRJ staff attended a listening session organized by the Multnomah County Juvenile Department and then held our own listening session with parents in the community. In these sessions, a pattern emerged: parents in all groups, particularly parents of Black children, reported that school discipline issues began in early childhood. Parents spoke about schools placing their children in restricted behavioral classrooms for age-appropriate behavior and the long-term academic impact of removing children from mainstream classrooms.
YRJ heard repeated stories of students who were pushed out of the educational system instead of being offered the support and services they deserved. These stories are supported by studies which indicate racially disparate school discipline begins in pre-K and Black students are twice as likely to be suspended as White and Latinx students.
PASS services aim to prevent future entry into the juvenile justice system by disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline before it starts. Studies show that early educational experiences from preschool through third grade set the foundation for future school success. PASS serves families with children in this age range.
When an attorney represents a family and is present for school special education and/or disciplinary meetings, it can make all the difference in a child’s educational experience. Having a legal advocate present ensures that the school offers appropriate services and prevents schools from pushing certain children out of the classroom, causing them to become disconnected from education.
This expansion of YRJ’s SchoolWorks program includes a full-time attorney who will work with community partners to develop training for parents and community members interested in better understanding the educational rights of young children and how to advocate effectively for those rights. The SchoolWorks PASS program’s community training component magnifies YRJ’s community impact, empowering more families to demand the educational services their children deserve.
YRJ recently hired staff attorney Jawan Mullen, who will provide pro-bono comprehensive services to advocate on behalf of individual students and families and work with community partners to empower them to become a student’s biggest advocate in their education. Jawan will also develop and conduct “Know Your Rights” trainings and “Train the Trainer” workshops offered free in the community to families and community-based organizations.
Jawan is a Rose City native, with deep roots in the Portland Metro area. He earned his J.D. from Lewis and Clark Law School in 2020. During his legal career, he has been both a criminal defense attorney and prosecutor. Jawan joined YRJ in June, and will lead the PASS program, aiming to reduce the achievement gap while simultaneously advocating for students to remain students and as far away from the criminal justice system as possible.