The Center for Law and Education is pleased to announce that it has been awarded highly competitive funding from the Cummings Foundation to prepare lay advocates to represent economically disadvantaged Boston public school students at disciplinary exclusion hearings.
Studies have shown that increased drop-out rates, lower graduation rates, and inadequate preparation for college and career readiness are associated with high rates of disciplinary exclusion and missed school days. In addition, African American/Black and Latino/Hispanic Students experience more frequent disciplinary exclusions in relation to their White counterparts enrolled in Boston Public Schools. “Many of these students already are academically struggling and behind their peers,” Boundy said. “They can least afford missed school days – and too often, all because they cannot afford legal representation at disciplinary hearings.”
CLE’s project, Access to Justice through Lay Advocacy, will, through training and support, prepare about 20 non-lawyer volunteers – retirees, AmeriCorps fellows, and university students – to provide effective assistance to low-income students at disciplinary hearings.
To learn more about the project, read the full press release here.
