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> > Maryland State Board of Education Considers Safe Schools
Regulations
> >
> > Free State Justice Launches "Thirty Days to Victory"
Campaign
> >
> > BACKGROUND:
> > The Maryland State Board of Education (MSBE) has proposed
new
> > regulations to ensure the safety of public school students
throughout
> > the state. After months of discussion on the previous
proposal, the
> > MSBE voted in February to withdraw the existing proposal
and republish
> > language to be included in a new section of COMAR under
"Public School
> > Standards - 13A.01.04". The proposed language reads
as follows:
> >
> > .03 School Safety.
> > All students in Maryland's public schools, without exception
and
> > regardless of race, ethnicity, region, religion, gender,
sexual
> > orientation, language, socioeconomic status, age, or
disability, have
> > the right to educational environments that are:
> > A. Safe;
> > B. Appropriate for academic achievement; and
> > C. Free from any form of harassment.
> >
> > The proposed regulations were published in the Maryland
Register on
> > April 18th. A 30-day Public Comment period is open until
May 20th.
> > Your letters, faxes, e-mails and calls in support of
the Safe Schools
> > language are vital to passing these protections for
Maryland students.
> >
> > ACTION NEEDED:
> >
> > 1. Action Dates: April 20 - May 20, 2003. Send your
written comments
> > in support of Safe Schools Regulations to Dr. JoAnne
Carter, Assistant
> > State Superintendent, Division of Student and School
Services,
> > Maryland State Department of Education, 200 West Baltimore
Street,
> > Baltimore, MD 21201-2595, or fax to (410) 333-0880,
or email to
> > jcarter@msde.state.md.us, or call (410) 767-0275. These
comments must
> > be received not later than May 20, 2003.
> >
> > Use the sample letter below to help you craft your comments
and PLEASE
> > include any personal experience you or a loved one has
had with
> > harassment in public schools. Personal stories are very
compelling!
> >
> > 2. Action Date: May 20, 2003. Testify at the Hearing!
The State Board
> > of Education will hold a hearing concerning the proposed
action on May
> > 20, 2003, at 2 p.m. in the 7th Floor Board Room, Maryland
State
> > Education Building, 200 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore,
MD 21201. If
> > you want to testify in SUPPORT of safe schools, please
contact
> > Jean-Michel Brevelle, Field Director by e-mailing
> > jean-michel@freestatejustice.org or by calling 301.524.5452
by
> > Monday, May 5th.
> >
> > 3. Share this Action Alert with your friends, family
members, and
> > colleagues, and ask them to take action too!
> >
> > 4. Send copies of your letters, faxes, or e-mails to
Free State
> > Justice. E-mail to jean-michel@freestatejustice.org
or postal mail to
> > Free State Justice, P.O. Box 13221, Baltimore, MD 21203.
If you are
> > unable to send copies, please visit My Actions! At the
FSJ website and
> > let us know that you took action. Go to
> > http://www.freestatejustice.org/myactions.htm
> >
> > Sample Letter
> >
> > Dr. JoAnne Carter
> > Assistant State Superintendent
> > Division of Student and School Services
> > Maryland State Department of Education
> > 200 West Baltimore Street
> > Baltimore, MD 21201-2595
> >
> > Dear Dr. Carter:
> >
> > I am writing in support of the proposed COMAR regulations
13A.01.04 -
> > Public School Standards, .03 School Safety. I strongly
agree that all
> > Maryland students need and will benefit dramatically
from the proposed
> > anti-harassment standards set forth in this section.
> >
> > I am especially grateful that the Maryland State Board
of Education
> > has proposed safe schools regulations that would protect
lesbian, gay
> > and bisexual youth from harassment. Safe school regulations
are
> > desperately needed by Maryland's LGBT youth, who are
overwhelmingly
> > targeted for harassment, violence, and discrimination
in schools. One
> > of the most effective ways to protect these students
is to adopt and
> > implement "safe school" regulations that explicitly
prohibit
> > harassment and discrimination on the basis of sexual
orientation.
> >
> > [Insert your personal story here.]
> >
> > I would like to thank the MSBE for all of the effort
that has gone
> > into developing a set of standards that treats all Maryland
public
> > school students fairly and with the dignity they deserve.
I look
> > forward to learning that the MSBE has voted favorably
to adopt and
> > implement these standards.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> >
> > [Your name and complete residential mailing address.]
> >
> >
> > For additional information about this Action Alert,
please contact:
> >
> > Jean-Michel Brevelle
> > Field Director
> > Free State Justice
> > P.O. Box 13221
> > Baltimore, MD 21203
> > P: 301.524.5452
> > jean-michel@freestatejustice.org
###
If you have questions regarding the article please try to contact
the appropriate organization. In case your question was not answered,
you're welcome to contact SAIM via email: info@saim.us
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