BLACK LIVES MATTER AT SCHOOL MONTH

WHEREAS, the closing of public schools and other school actions across the country have negatively and disproportionately impacted Black and brown communities; and

WHEREAS, Black educators have been disproportionately targeted for layoffs, have endured persistent racism, both overt and covert, and have been exploited for their cultural experiences to implement diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives without receiving adequate support or recognition; and

WHEREAS, mandates to teach Black history have been under attack by right-wing forces that want to distort and deny the vital history of Black people in the United States and across the world; and

WHEREAS, the implementation of ethnic studies and culturally sustaining curriculums is of critical importance to supporting the learning needs of all students, but particularly Black and brown students, as decades of research have demonstrated; and

WHEREAS, Black and brown students face suspensions from school at disproportionate rates even when risk factors such as poverty and low achievement are controlled for; and

WHEREAS, discipline, criminalization and over-policing of Black and brown students have proven to be ineffective in improving outcomes and are damaging to their health and well-being, and restorative practices have proven to be a powerful tool in reducing disproportionate discipline and improving school climate; and

WHEREAS, school districts often ineffectively implement restorative practices without adequate training, support and understanding of their role in a developmentally appropriate system of accountability, consequences and harm reparation; and

WHEREAS, increased staffing of social workers and nurses and the protection of counselor time to do counseling work are vital and should meet levels recommended by their respective national professional organizations in order to support and address students’ social-emotional and other needs:

RESOLVED, that the AFT endorses participation and encourages members in all locals to participate in Black Lives Matter at School Week to take place during Black History Month; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT and its affiliates will host events during or around this week and engage in advocacy, on an ongoing basis, aligned to the national demands for hiring more Black teachers and ending the pushout of Black teachers in our schools, proper implementation of restorative practices in schools and ending zero-tolerance discipline, teaching students Black history and other ethnic studies curriculums, and funding more counselors in schools as opposed to police officers; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will encourage its members to wear Black Lives Matter at School shirts to school that week and teach lessons about related topics; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT executive council and AFT members in classrooms will participate in the Black Lives Matter at School Week(s) of Action by teaching one or more lessons in our classrooms.

Adopted May 28, 2025